Chiefs offense works on communication in early stages of training camp

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KMIZ)

The early stages of Chiefs training camp are tabbed as the 'underwear olympics,' for a reason. Guys aren't hitting each other, no one's wearing pads...they're just showing up in the equivalent of shorts and a t-shirt.

It begs the question: what can you really learn about a team at that stage in the offseason?

For the Chiefs, this is a time dedicated to building their communication and chemistry.

"Yeah, I think communication is a big thing [for the offensive line], right now," center Creed Humphrey said. "Being able to communicate with each other - pre-snap post-snap, all those things. So far, you know, the guys have been doing a great job with it. I feel like it's gotten better with each day so far and just the work ethic and individual drills, all those things, it's in the right direction."

You can watch the full press conference with Humphrey in the video player below.

The art of communication will be vital for the Chiefs, especially in a year that features so many new faces, including Super Bowl MVP running back Kenneth Walker III, rookie receiver Cyrus Allen - who's shown flashes in camp, so far - and many others.

Of course, the addition of Walker III turned lots of head around the National Football League, as its been quite some time since the Chiefs have had a serious run game to contend with. They feel like they have that with the reigning Super Bowl MVP, as head coach Andy Reid joked that they'd run the ball on every down with him on the team.

"I'm really excited about [Kenneth Walker III]," Humphrey said. "He's a dynamic player, you know, freak athlete, great with his reads, everything like that. So, we're really excited to get him in there and start working with him."

The 25-year-old is coming off of a Super Bowl-winning season with the Seattle Seahawks, when he rushed for 1,027 yards and five touchdowns on 221 carries. However, he's also someone to watch in the passing game, as he hauled in 31 catches for 282 yards, last year.

His presence is going to open up some more opportunities for the Kansas City offense, including getting the screen game back to being a more dimensional part of the offense.

"I think it's, you know, just focusing on the details and practice locking down, you know, exactly what we need to do, exactly what we're trying to accomplish with each screen and really just, you know, get the reps with the backs, the new backs and everybody just to get that cohesion," Humphrey said.

Through the air, Kansas City returned a lot of its firepower, as tight end Travis Kelce and wide receivers Xavier Worthy and Rashee Rice are all back for the 2026 season. But, they have a strong supporting cast, as well, including wide receiver Tyquan Thornton.

After starting off the first month of the 2025 season strong, Thornton ended the year with 438 yards and three touchdowns on 19 receptions.

He had an opportunity to go just about anywhere he wanted in the offseason, as a free agent, but decided to return for his second full season as a Kansas City Chiefs.

"I'll say just the history of the organization, man," he said, when asked why he chose to stay in KC. "They play a lot of clean football here, man, play at the highest level. Obviously, Patrick Mahomes and working with Andy Reid and the coaching staff, one of the best coaching staffs in the league. So, why not Kansas City?"

You can watch the full press conference with Thornton in the video player below.

Thornton has an opportunity, in 2026, to open up an even bigger role for himself in the offseason, with the departures of receivers Marquise 'Hollywood' Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster, after the 2025 season.

"Those guys paved the way, man, as far as leadership in the room. I mean, I feel like I'm the oldest guy - not age wise , but like as far as playing in the league in our room - so I just want to take on that leadership role with the young guys and just lead it in the right way."

He's working with new wide receivers coach Chad O'Shea, who joined the team in Jan. O'Shea actually got into the league as a volunteer assistant in KC in 2003. Now, over two decades later, he's back the Chiefs and working on Coach Reid.

However, O'Shea is not a new voice to Thornton.

"During the draft process, I had a chance to meet with Chad when he was with the Browns. He coached at New England Patriots in the past too, so I mean, we see the same way. It's great to have him in the room. He's a great coach, man, very hands on and I see our room definitely getting better each and every day," Thornton said.

Chiefs Kingdom saw flashes of what Thornton can do at the start of the 2025 campaign, as he tallied nine receptions for 171 yards and a pair of scores over the course of four games. Now, the question is...can he sustain that for a whole year?

"I'm very confident, but it's also a process, man. Come down here [to training camp], it's just day two man. Just coming out here, working with the rest of the offense and just putting our feet together and just working," he said.

Training camp will continue with another practice on Friday morning.