KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs coach Andy Reid anticipates that wide receiver Rashee Rice and first-round draft selection Josh Simmons will both be ready to join the team for training camp at Missouri Western State University during the last week of July.
Rice’s previous season was cut short due to an injury that restricted him to only four games. Meanwhile, Simmons, who played at Ohio State, saw his draft position drop, allowing the Chiefs to select him with the 32nd overall pick.
“I think they’re both ready to go,” Reid stated following a final conditioning assessment on Thursday, which concluded a three-day mandatory minicamp. “They both put in great work during these camps.”
The Chiefs had high hopes for Rice, aiming for him to be a key player in a revamped offense last season. He started strong, accumulating 24 receptions for 288 yards and two touchdowns in just three games. However, a collision with quarterback Patrick Mahomes while attempting to tackle an opponent in a game against the Chargers sidelined him early in the fourth quarter after Mahomes threw an interception.
This injury proved costly for Kansas City, which had already lost its secondary wide receiver, Marquise Brown, to a shoulder injury on the very first play of the preseason, incapacitating him for much of the season.
In response, the Chiefs leaned more heavily on Xavier Worthy, their first-round pick who emerged as a breakout talent. Worthy led the team in receptions with 59 and yards with 638, as well as leading all players with six touchdown catches.
With Rice and Brown now back in action, and a more seasoned Worthy, Kansas City finds itself with three standout wide receivers. Coupled with the return of Mahomes for his 13th NFL season, the Chiefs are optimistic about restoring their offense to one of the league’s best.
“That’s the goal. When you step into the building every day, you want to be the top offense in the league. Ultimately, though, our aim is to win the Super Bowl,” Mahomes said. “Our focus is to do everything within our means to secure victories, with the hope that being the best offense will complement the defense we have.”
Simmons’s impact could be significant, not only due to his impressive size of 6-foot-5 and 320 pounds.
Last season, the Chiefs faced significant challenges at left tackle, as second-round pick Kingsley Suamataia was benched, and second-year player Wanya Morris struggled to perform effectively. Kansas City eventually pivoted by moving standout left guard Joe Thuney to tackle, while using Mike Caliendo as a guard substitution, yet they faced difficulties during their Super Bowl defeat against the Eagles.
Earlier in the offseason, the Chiefs traded Thuney to the Bears primarily for monetary reasons, which opened a guard position that Caliendo and Suamataia are anticipated to compete for when training camp kicks off.
Concerning the left tackle position, Reid hinted that Simmons could be his favored candidate to fill this critical role.
“You can clearly see his athleticism and determination. He approached everything properly, going above and beyond. His rehab was impressive; he embodied the mindset of, ‘I’m going to be ready before training camp. I’m gearing up now.’ He has put in a commendable effort,” Reid noted.
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