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Is Mahomes now scouting too? I think the issue with the backs, Including Playoff Damian, was the oline and not the skill. Im hoping CEH is the best KC back ever.

Yet an undrafted guy gets those reps? My point is simply this. He was a first round pick at a position KC did not have a top pick need. I hope he is a fantastic pick. After all....what do I know? In todays NFL RBs are a dime a dozen.

Agree. Its the fact he was a #1 when KC had other needs. As a #1 you would hope he is a three down back. Hes been playing ball most his life. Catching a pass out of the back field does not require endless training camp. Its catching a foot ball from a few yards away. GEEZ. Pass protection should also not be an issue for a #1 pick. If those were issues you draft him lower. KC did not need a RB. I was given the impression he was the next coming. Well I hope he is. Its not his fault KC picked him as a #1.

Im totally relaxed. Its my opinion not my life.

Herbie Teope @HerbieTeope Chiefs’ first-team DL having their way in this team drill. Jarran Reed and Chris Jones with penetration on consecutive plays, would’ve had sacks. Jones dipped low off edge on Lucas Niang, got around easily and had clear path to Mahomes. Reed also swallowed CEH on run play.

I wonder why the #1 Pick CEH is not seen as a receiving option? Im liking this pick less and less.

Sam McDowell @SamMcDowell11 Mahomes has found a reliable beat-the-blitz option in Jerick McKinnon. Pressured immediately, he hit McKinnon on a swing pass that could’ve gone for 70. McKinnon turned his head quickly looking for the ball. Sam McDowell @SamMcDowell11 Chiefs offense having a rough day, particularly up front. Chris Jones has been a constant presence in the backfi

Nate Taylor @ByNateTaylor Brendan Daly just scream excellent praises to Mike Danna here during the 7-on-9 period. Danna has had a strong camp.

Eddie High @EddieHigh Eric Bienemy: “We gotta pick this shit up” Chris Jones got through with would-be sacks two plays in a row Eddie High @EddieHigh Eric Bienemy: “We gotta pick this shit up” Chris Jones got through with would-be sacks two plays in a row Tommy Rezac @TommyKFEQ · 3m Early impression from team work this morning: Chris Jones dominated. He’s been on another level this camp. #Chiefs

Eddie High @EddieHigh Eric Bienemy: “We gotta pick this shit up” Chris Jones got through with would-be sacks two plays in a row

Herbie Teope @HerbieTeope Don’t see WR Antonio Callaway (bone bruise), OL Darryl Williams (COVID list) out here today. Willie Gay (concussion protocol), Kyle Long (knee), Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (hand), Mike Remmers (back), RB Darrel Williams (unknown), Evan Baylis (ankle), Malik Herring (knee) at rehab.

MECOLE HARDMANWR, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS Mecole Hardman is listed as the Chiefs' No. 2 receiver on the team's first depth chart of 2021. It may be time to adjust the ranks. Following an offseason in which Kansas City brass talked up Byron Pringle as the team's potential No. 2 wideout, Hardman starts the season as a presumed starter alongside Tyreek Hill. Hardman, by all accounts, has made the leap as he enters his third NFL season. In June, The Athletic's Nate Taylor said Hardman "has made sizable improvements, whether it’s his route running, his consistency when catching the ball or his overall demeanor on the practice fields." More playing time and a more diverse route tree should make the speed demon more consistent for fantasy purposes in 2021. Hardman should be treated as a WR3/4 in 12-team leagues with game-breaking upside.

Sam McDowell @SamMcDowell11 Pretty good little storm here. The Chiefs will stay indoors for the remainder of practice.

Matt Derrick @mattderrick There’s a young Chiefs fan wearing an “Obi Wan Mahomie” t-shirt. My inner Star Wars geek senses the Force is strong in this one. 7:44 AM · Aug 8, 2021

Not in KC A couple of familiar faces for K.C. Chiefs fans have earned some new free agent visits recently, giving them hopes of extending their NFL careers for another season. Both wide receiver De’Anthony Thomas and tight end Demetrius Harris recently worked out for new franchises this week with the Arizona Cardinals and New Orleans Saints, respectively.

Toub confirmed that wide receiver Mecole Hardman would start as the team’s punt returner, and Byron Pringle would start as the team’s kick returner. “We’re going to start off with the way we ended last year,” noted Toub. “I think both of those guys have improved because we had OTAs, we didn’t have that last year, and now we’re having camp, and they’ve really developed on some of their weaknesses. They’re getting better seeing the ball and catching it coming forward, and I think both of them are going to take a good step forward.” “Mike Hughes is a guy that is going to surprise a lot [of people],” mentioned Toub. “He’s a really good returner. He’s got great returner skills, and he hasn’t really been tapped in that department, and we’ve been working him back there as a punt returner as well as a kick returner. We’re going to get him in there and see what he can do. He’s been real impressive at practice.”

Tight end hopeful Jody Fortson, who has impressed on offense at camp, fits that mold. “Jody has really stepped up,” said Toub. “He put on like 20 pounds of muscle, and you can see it in his play. He’s playing a lot bigger, he’s playing with a lot more confidence, and the same thing is going on special teams. He’s holding up guys stronger. He doesn’t look like a wide receiver anymore; he looks like a tight end. So, he’s really stepped it up, and he’s definitely one of the guys that I’m looking forward to seeing.” So too is undrafted safety Devon Key, who has impressed on the other side of the football. “Devon Key is another one,” added Toub. “Obviously, being a young guy, it’s going to be important he goes in there and makes plays on special teams because he’s really not in a battle for maybe a one or two spot, but maybe a third spot, and it’s going to come down to special teams and what he can do there. He’s definitely that guy.”

Following practice, the Chiefs said that Callaway’s injury is a bone bruise. Since he left Thursday’s practice on a cart, this is good news. As practice began, the reason for Duvernay-Tardif’s absence was unknown. After it concluded, the Chiefs said he has a hand injury.

Wide receiver Mecole Hardman beat undrafted safety Devon Key as he caught a deep ball from quarterback Patrick Mahomes for what would have been a touchdown in the day’s first 11-on-11 session. He also had another touchdown later in the day. Hardman continues to put together an above-average camp in the all-important third year. Wide receiver Marcus Kemp looks to have improved his offensive game in every facet, and the key for me this week was that it continues to be the case now that the pads have come on. His routes are solid — and at 6 feet 4, he is a big target who can catch the football. When I wrote him into my initial 53-man roster projection, it was with some hesitation. No more. That noted the starting interior of the Chiefs (left guard Joe Thuney, center Creed Humphrey and right guard Trey Smith) have come as advertised. In this drill, in particular, left tackle Orlando Brown has not. With Mike Remmers still sidelined, right tackle Lucas Niang improved as the week carried on. Here are the winners and losers: Winners (in order): The starting offensive line interior, especially Humphrey, Darryl Williams, Lucas Niang, Frank Clark, Yasir Durant, Khalen Saunders; Losers (in order): Nick Allegretti, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, Brown Jr., Jarran Reed, Tyler Clark

Key said that he’s getting that kind of help from the rest of the team’s veteran players, too — and he loves the atmosphere. “They’re just the kind of guys that love football,” he marveled. “I can tell every day — when guys come out here to work. And in the locker room, it’s always ball — just their passion for the game. That’s kind of why I enjoy playing with these guys.” And Key said that he’s impressed with how the players interact with each other. “The bond that everybody kind of creates in the locker room is really great,” he said. “They take on everybody — no matter if they’re the first-round pick or [an] undrafted guy — everybody’s just trying to create a bond.” Key understands there are no guarantees; he’s an undrafted rookie trying to make a roster that’s consistently among the league’s best. He also knows that how he plays in the team’s exhibition games will have a lot to do with whether he makes the squad. So he is focused on that. “It’s going to be a big moment for me — just going out there and making plays,” he said. “I’m still trying to make the team, so any opportunity I get to make a play is what I’m trying to do.”

Key said that the Chiefs coaches have figured that out. “They know that I’m a quick learner,” he noted. “They kind of demand going in there and learning the playbook as quick as I can — spend time after if I need to. They really just want me to go out there and be comfortable in whatever position they put me in.” Photo by Steve Roberts/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Likely, the Chiefs had also noted his record with the Hilltoppers, where he became an immediate starter in his redshirt freshman season and started 49 of 50 games during the four seasons he played there. Key said that experience is also helping him. “The kind of defense we had in college helped me translate to the kind of scheme we’re in with the Chiefs,” he explained. “We had — I would say — a pretty difficult defense in college.” Still, it wasn’t enough to attract much attention in the NFL Draft. Round after round went by. But then his phone rang. “Coach Reid called,” Key recalled. “Just that kind of made an impression on me — having the head coach call me. I thought that was pretty nice.” Reid’s message was pretty simple. “He just basically said, ‘You know, you deserved to get drafted. You had a successful career at Western.’ The Chiefs didn’t have any more picks left, so he was like, ‘If you don’t end up getting drafted, we’d love to have you.’” That — and the team’s winning culture — was enough for Key. “I’ve always said God has a plan for everybody,” he told reporters. “That was just his plan for me.” Now that he’s in Kansas City, Key is happy with the choice he made — particularly with playing alongside three-time All-Pro safety Tyrann Mathieu.

Very likely he will be who he has always been. The QB RB thing is a little old. If Watkins is available for the play offs he is a difference maker. Its about playoffs for Balt. So 8 reg season games may be fine. They are not paying him KC money.

ob Collins @RCFOX4KC Chiefs receiver Antonio Callaway helped to the medical tent, seemed to favor a knee. Getting looked at by the trainers. #ChiefsKingdom

Devon Key could be the next great undrafted find for KC Chiefs. Devon Key is one young player making waves despite going undrafted as a defensive back out of Western Kentucky. The Chiefs have even had Key in there with the first-team defense at times in practice, and Steve Spagnuolo said it’s just a part of trying him out to see how he looks at various positions. Versatility is going to help Key’s ability to get on the field, especially in the face of potential injuries. When speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Spags was asked about Key’s presence, and he gave credit to Veach and the Chiefs front office for even finding him in the first place. “I’ll tell you what, Brett Veach and his guys did an excellent job identifying him,” said Spagnuolo. “He’s an undrafted free agent. I think he’s an instinctive guy. He’s in tune to everything. We’ve got him playing a couple spots just to find out what he’s all about. Really impressed right now. We’ll see what he does in a game. We preface all these comments, right, by the fact that we can’t do anything live, really, and it’s not a game. But right now, I think he’s doing a nice job.” It’s interesting that Key didn’t get more play in the draft given his amount of experience and size. He stands 6’1, 210 lbs. and he plays with a punishing tackling style. He also was a four-year starter for the Hilltoppers, which is perhaps why he’s been able to step in so quickly. His college offensive coordinator raved about Key’s intelligence to us in an interview earlier this spring, which can’t hurt picking up the mental side of the professional level as well. In his four year career in Conference USA, Key had 344 career tackles in 48 games at WKU. He also had 19 passes deflected and 6 career interceptions, two of them for a touchdown.