By MATT PIKE
The Kansas City Chiefs hit the ground running after an off-day Thursday, back at practice today on a much cooler Friday morning.
Despite questions of a knee injury, the Chiefs drafted Ohio State left tackle Josh Simmons in the first round of this year’s draft. Simmons though is past that knee injury and has been impressing during camp.
Head Coach Andy Reid says Simmons has been getting in his reps, which is good for a rookie
“Showing up every day and working and not taking plays off or anything like that, but he’s a worker,” Reid tells reporters following practice. “But he’s a worker and he’s willing to do it, it’s just a matter of you’ve got to keep on going, but he’s done a nice job of what we’ve asked him, he’s working on all the fundamentals and techniques and that’s the challenge for him.”
After being limited during team OTA’s, Simmons has been getting full reps during training camp and has impressed fans with his blocking skills along the offensive line.
Simmons says he’s leaned on players like Creed Humphrey, Trey Smith, and Jaylon Moore, who have been in the league for some time, and have made rookie mistakes before
“So, I don’t make them or I’m at least ready for those welcome to the NFL moments,” Simmons explains. “But it’s just about the work you put it, even if it’s something that I already know just to confirm, like hey on this I should set like this or something like that? Yes, that’s what you want to do, just getting that kind of imprinted in my brain that way I can play as fast as I can when i get out there.”
Simmons has been rotating with Moore at the tackle position as the two compete for the left tackle job. Moore has also been working at guard.
A player that’s paved his way into the Chiefs special teams’ group is wide receiver Nikki Remigio. Special Teams Coordinator Dave Toub says Remigio is one of the best returners on the squad.
While Remigio accepts the compliment, he says he takes it with a grain of salt, pointing out you can’t get complacent in this league
“I think the thing that I’ve learned with this business is that if you get to comfortable, you’re going to get got, and I’ve worked to damn hard to get to this point in my career, to get to year three, to let it slip through my fingers,” Remigio says. “So really I approach everyday like I’m an undrafted rookie that barely got a shot to make it to the NFL.”
Remigio has had opportunities to run with the upper wide receiver groups as well this camp, with injuries to Skyy Moore and Hollywood Brown
Jawaan Taylor was back at practice today, as was wide receiver Xavier Worthy who cleared the NFL’s concussion protocol.
The Chiefs practiced for just over two hours. They are back at practice tomorrow at 9:15.
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.
