Chiefs players feel the heat in lengthy, sweltering practice

Blair Kerkhoff, The Kansas City Star on Jul 29, 2025

Published in Football

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ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — The longest, hottest and most demanding practice of Chiefs training camp was perhaps best embodied by the player who doesn’t often come to the interview area drenched in sweat.

But there was kicker Harrison Butker, dripping like a faucet.

“If I’m tired and sweaty,” he said, “you know the rest of the team is.”

The Chiefs went through a physical workout that endured more than 2 1/2 hours that ended with the thermometer reading 90 degrees and the heat index pushing past 100.

“I feel like it’s as hot as Florida right now,” said rookie running back Brashard Smith, a Floridian who spent his first three college seasons at Miami.

By the end, if players weren’t directly involved in a drill, chances are they had taken a knee.

“Nice, warm day, huh?” quipped coach Andy Reid.

One that came with position developments, some injuries and a scuffle.

That’s right, the first camp skirmish pitted a pair of rookies, tackle Josh Simmons and interior defensive lineman Omarr Norman-Lott, with Simmons appearing to land a right-handed blow to Norman-Lott’s helmet.

Norman-Lott returned a left jab. Simmons’ helmet came off, and that was about it as teammates and Reid stepped in.

“It’s hot,” Reid said. “These things happen. Competitive stuff.”

And there was another development involving the offensive line: Veteran newcomer Jaylon Moore, who signed a two-year, $30 million deal with the Chiefs to play tackle, lined up at left guard with the starters for multiple drills.

Kingsley Suamataia, who opened last season as the starting left tackle as a rookie out of BYU, was the presumed left guard this year. But perhaps the position is up for grabs.

The longer practice also lengthened the Chiefs’ injury list. They went into the day with three players held out: rookie linebacker Jeff Bassa (ankle sprain), safety Deon Bush (hamstring) and cornerback Eric Scott (hamstring).

The list started to grow early when wide receiver Xavier Worthy went down hard after failing to pull in a deep ball from quarterback Patrick Mahomes. He walked to the medical tent and returned.

Reid later said Worthy had hit his head.

Then, wide receiver Hollywood Brown limped to the medical tent and was carted away from practice. Reid said Brown had suffered an ankle injury. Brown missed all but two regular-season games last season after a incurring a clavicle injury in the first game of the 2024 preseason.

Near the end of practice, wide receiver Skyy Moore also left the practice field in a cart. Reid said Moore had a hamstring injury.

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