The Chiefs got back to work Tuesday in St. Joseph, and the second straight day in pads brought a little more clarity to a few of the camp’s biggest questions. With rookies and veterans grinding through a roster that’s still being sorted out in several spots, the practice field is starting to reveal who’s gaining ground.
One of the more notable developments has been Kahlil Benson. The undrafted free agent out of Indiana keeps turning heads, and he was again the first man up at right tackle.
Jaylon Moore also got work there, but Benson’s rise has been one of camp’s more intriguing storylines. He didn’t lose any of his five reps with the first-team offense during the final team period, even with matchups that included Chris Jones, R Mason Thomas and Felix Anudike-Uzomah.
Andy Reid has been making it clear that Moore is very much in the mix, but he’s also kept giving Benson those early reps over multiple practices. Reid said Monday, “Both of them can play, I think.
We just have a young guy that we haven't seen do much, but he's got some talent, so let's see where that goes.” At a position battle this important, the Chiefs appear ready to let it play out.
Tuesday also came with a familiar-looking injury list. Wide receivers Cyrus Allen (shin) and Xavier Worthy (shoulder) were out after Reid said both needed a day or two to recover from injuries they picked up Saturday.
Defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott (knee) and end Ashton Gillotte (hamstring) were also sidelined, with no timeline given for either. Cornerback Kristian Fulton was the newest question mark after reportedly not practicing, while Mansoor Delane continued to wear a non-contact yellow jersey.
There were also a few recognizable faces around the facility. Dwayne Bowe, Trent Green and Tyrann Mathieu were all in St. Joseph, with Bowe drawing attention of his own before practice.
The Chiefs also had Joe Bleymaier at the podium for the first time in camp. With Eric Bieniemy away after a tragic shooting involving his son and wife just over a week ago, Bleymaier has stepped into a larger role, and he said Bieniemy has been “reaching out more lately” even while out.
Bleymaier also had plenty to say about Kenneth Walker, praising the way he changes the offense. “He’s going to be tough to tackle.
He brings another element to the offense. I think it’s clear… some of our screens so far this camp, a lot of our runs, and then the play actions after that, all of that ties in together, so him with the o-line and how that opens up the rest of the field, it’s a credit to him.
He’s been tremendous.”
And when asked about the offense’s biggest surprise so far, Bleymaier pointed to Cyrus Allen. Even with Allen missing the last couple of practices, Bleymaier explained why the rookie has stood out so early.
“Early on, he grasped the playbook and what we asked him to do. That’s the mental.
And he has a natural feel for space out there after the snap. So sometimes with young guys, when they’re learning the offense-where to line up, all the details of just getting out of the huddle-some of that, once the ball snaps, the natural ability gets shoved down a little bit.
You could still see he was playing with that natural ability. So he’s got great physical traits.
They were showing up after the snap. His mental stuff was good pre-snap.
So you can build on that. That’s exciting.”
In Other News...
Chiefs Tackle Battle Could Change More For Patrick Mahomes Than Expected
The Chiefs added undrafted free agent Kahlil Benson and quickly found themselves with another camp battle worth watching, this one at right tackle. Benson has been taking reps against established players and has caught the eye of both teammates and coaches, with running back Kenneth Walker III among those noting how well he has handled the work so far. For a team trying to get Patrick Mahomes back into a comfortable rhythm after injury, the protection picture matters as much as almost anything else in camp.
Andy Reid has also seen enough from Benson to keep the competition open, which is part of what makes this story more interesting than a standard depth-chart fight. The job is still up for grabs as Kansas City moves deeper into training camp, and the outcome could shape not just who lines up on Mahomes blind side, but how the offense settles in once the season begins. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Camp Suddenly Has One Injury Concern And One Huge Boost
A routine training camp day for the Chiefs came with a little of both good and bad news on the injury front. Head coach Andy Reid confirmed that Kristian Fulton was absent because of a hip flexor injury, while other sidelined players remain in the mix as Kansas City manages a few early camp health concerns, including linebackers Jeffrey Bassa and Drue Tranquill.
The brighter storyline came from Rashee Rice, who took part fully in 11-on-11 drills after offseason knee surgery and drew praise from Reid for the way he looked. For a Chiefs offense trying to build rhythm early, getting Rice back into full work is the kind of development that matters, even if camp still has a few medical loose ends to monitor. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Red Friday Tradition Is Back With A Meaning Fans Will Love
The annual Red Friday rollout is back on the calendar, and this years version will again tie one of the Chiefs most recognizable gameday traditions to a good cause. The 2026 flags go on sale Sept. 10, with a presale beginning Sept. 7, and the familiar red banners will carry a nod to Andy Reid and his celebratory line, How Bout Those Chiefs.
At $10 apiece, the flags remain an easy grab for fans who want to take part in the tradition while helping beyond the stadium walls. Proceeds will benefit Ronald McDonald House Kansas City, with support from the Chiefs and the Hunt Family Foundation, keeping the yearly release rooted in both team spirit and community impact. [Read more 🡒]