Chiefs training camp winds down; first preseason game of the year just days away

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Kansas City Chiefs have almost put a bow on training camp on the campus of Missouri Western. Head coach Andy Reid and company have 15 practices down and just four to go in St. Joseph.

There will be a pause on practices for a few days, however, as KC boards a flight to Jacksonville for the first preseason game of the year against the Jaguars. That game will kickoff on Saturday, Aug. 10 at 6 p.m. CT.

"I like playing in the preseason, honestly. Getting in there, trying to make sure that we're doing stuff the right way and then getting out, trying to keep everybody healthy and then playing the sport that I love, so I'm excited for the opportunity," quarterback Patrick Mahomes said. "Hopefully, we can hold off the rain a little bit, and go out there and play a good football game against a good team."

Coach Reid said he is planning on putting his starters in the game for at least for a part of the first quarter, but he is mainly focusing on seeing how the newcomers fair in live action.

"I'm going to play everybody, so all those young guys, I'd love to see how they compete. You know, the higher the draft picks are going to be in there with a little bit better competition, so I want to see how they handle that," he said.

It will be fans' first chance to see, at least a glimpse, of the new receiving corps that General Manager Brett Veach assembled in the offseason.

The headliners of the group are former Arizona Cardinal Marquise 'Hollywood' Brown and first-round draft pick Xavier Worthy, but Kansas City has a good core of returners, as well, including Rashee Rice. Mahomes said how that group has interacted with each other throughout training camp has been impressive.

"What I've loved the most is how much they root for each other," Mahomes said. "I mean, you can see it out there. I mean, when guys make plays, everybody's going out there to celebrate, and we've got a lot of good guys that are playing hard and all making plays against a great defense, and so, it's not always going to be perfect, it's not always going to be the perfect play or whatever like that. but they're all competing every single time, they're rooting for each other, and that's what you want in the receiving room is a good group of guys that are talented."

In addition to fans getting to see the newcomers on the Chiefs roster, it will also be the firsts time that the NFL's new, controversial kickoff rule will be seen in a live game. Essentially, of the 11 players on the kicking team in 2024, 10 of those players will have to keep a foot on the return team's 40-yard line while the kicker kicks off from the 25. The return team will be set on their own 30 to 35-yard line in a five-yard zone. Additionally, the 10 kicking team players cannot move until the ball hits the ground or player in the landing zone or the end zone.

Veteran kicker Harrison Butker will be tasked with tackling those changes for Kansas City, as he's fresh off of a four-year, $25.6 million contract extension.

"I'm very grateful to be in this position. You know, it's almost surreal to think about the success that I've been able to have, you know, I put in a lot of work and effort to be the best, but there's so many times where I go out on the field, there's pressure, everyone's watching, and I don't really understand what's going on, it doesn't really even feel like I'm kicking the ball, and I look up and the ball's going through the uprights, and I'm just very grateful for the success that I've had," Butker said.

Wednesday's press conference was the first time the kicker has spoken to the media since a commencement speech he delivered in May sparked some online controversy.

"In terms of what I said, you know, I prayed about it, and I thought about it, and I was very intentional with what I said and I stand behind what I said, and I really believe if people knew me as a person and understood that I was coming from a place of love and not a place of trying to attack or put people down that I only want the best for people," he said.

Butker and the Chiefs will kickoff against Jacksonville at 6 p.m. CT at EverBank Stadium on Aug. 10.