Arrowheadlines: Kansas City Chiefs News 8/11

Chiefs Training Camp Update 8/10: What You Need to Know from The Mothership

Chiefs rookie receiver Chris Conley practiced for the first time at training camp after dealing with a knee strain for the past week

One new notable absence from practice was receiver Jeremy Maclin, who is dealing with a neck strain suffered at Sunday's practice, although it doesn't appear to be serious.

Here's the FULL INJURY REPORT with all 10 players who didn't practice on Monday

Chiefs coach Andy Reid and cornerbacks Phillip Gaines and Sean Smith all spoke with the media in the press conference tent after practice

What We Learned From Monday's Chiefs Media Availability from The Mothership

Reid spoke to the progress of wide receiver Chris Conley, who returned to the field on Monday morning.

"This was just a test to see where he's at," he said. "We'll see where the pain is, or if there's any when he's done. We tried to monitor him today, and again, we'll see. If it flares up again, we'll sit him out. If not, he'll be able to go. We just have to be smart with it."

Reid commented on the starting offensive line combination of Eric Fisher, Ben Grubbs, Mitch Morse, Zach Fulton and Jeff Allen.

"This group seems to be working well together and we're happy with it so far. Again, we'll just see. We're going to try to play the five best guys."

The Fans of Chiefs "American Family" Fun Day from The Mothership

"I took him to his first game when he was 16 in Kansas City against Denver," Dana continues. "He was just totally thrilled. Then his dad brought him to a couple of games last year, and he got to come down to two or three games last year before he went into the Army."

"He" is Dana and Mark's son, Zach Zessin, a combat medic with the United States Army. Zach is currently deployed in Afghanistan where he supports the surgical team—and Jamaal Charles.

"He wanted to be here today, but he was insistent that I come instead to try and get Jamaal's autograph for him," Dana says. "He'd like to have everybody's..."

...After the autograph session, Dana and Mike have planned to mail Zach the two footballs and a VIP nametag created for him to keep.

Chiefs' Jeremy Maclin does not practice; Chris Conley returns from Chiefs Digest

Reid said Maclin got hurt Sunday during a drill after being tackled, but the injury doesn't appear serious.

"He had an X-ray," coach Andy Reid said. "Everything is OK, we just got to get the spasm out of it."

Maclin was involved in an on-field scuffle with cornerback Marcus Cooper midway through Sunday's practice, but finished the session.

Rookie wide receiver Chris Conley returned to practice for the first time since suffering a knee injury on July 29.

Jeremy Maclin misses Chiefs practice because of neck strain from ESPN

"It was just in a drill yesterday," Reid said when asked how Maclin was injured. "He got tackled. I'm not exactly sure which play it happened on. He woke up this morning with a stiff neck and so we wanted to make sure it wasn't anything structural. It wasn't."

Chris Conley returns to Chiefs practice, but for how long? from ESPN

"This was just a test to see where he's at," coach Andy Reid said. "We'll see where the pain is, if there's any, when he's done. We tried to monitor him today. We'll see. If it flares up again, we'll sit him down. If not, he'll be able to go. We're going to be smart with it."

Reid wouldn't commit to Conley being available for the Chiefs' first preseason game on Saturday night at the Arizona Cardinals.

Wide receivers working hard to get noticed in Chiefs camp from Chiefs Digest

With 14 players and likely six roster spots available for wide receivers, training camp practices at Missouri Western State University take on even more importance. For some of the young receivers - half of the group is 23 years old or younger - the preseason games become mini-Super Bowls for their football futures.

"With a tremendous amount of plays in right now, we want to find out how they are handling the mental part," head coach Andy Reid said, "and how they are handling the physical part and if they're producing out here."

But how does a young receiver catch the coaches' eye? Simple.

"They make plays," Reid said.

He's second team now, but Chiefs need to get Sean Smith lots of work from ESPN

Smith remains an important member of the Chiefs' defense, though. Unless something unforeseen happens, he will slide right back into the starting lineup immediately after the Sept. 28 game against the Packers in Green Bay.

So the Chiefs need to give rookie Marcus Peters some work in the starting lineup because he will be one of the likely starters at cornerback for those first three games. But they also need to give Smith enough work to keep him sharp. Whatever he gets in training camp and the preseason has to last him until after the Green Bay game.

Notebook: Chiefs' Sean Smith supportive of young cornerbacks from Chiefs Digest

"It's fun," Smith said. "As much as I would love to be out there with my guys, just seeing the younger guys take that next step.

"I had a chance to do it a little bit with Phillip Gaines last year - a rookie who came in and started off a little shaky. But you're just coaching him up, you see him get better and better every week. You're proud of that guy, it's like a little brother out there."

The Chiefs kept Peters on the outside, moved Gaines to the inside and inserted Jamell Fleming on the right side in the nickel package.

Rookie cornerback Steven Nelson also saw a rotation with the first-team defense at the nickel cornerback position, and Smith had nothing but praise for the rookies.

Even in pads, Chiefs continue to be impressed with James O'Shaughnessy from ESPN

The Kansas City Chiefs learned in offseason practice that tight end James O'Shaughnessy, their fifth-round draft pick from Illinois State, was a capable receiver.

O'Shaughnessy needed to prove at training camp, once he and his teammates got into pads, that he could handle blocking and the other physical aspects of the game.

A week into camp, O'Shaughnessy has done that to the Chiefs' satisfaction. He remains the top tight end behind Travis Kelce and judging from what the Chiefs are doing in practice he will get playing time in formations that also feature Kelce.

Rookie DT Charles Tuaau puts in grind with view to make Chiefs roster from Chiefs Digest

Chiefs rookie defensive tackle Charles Tuaau is far from home, separated by more than 2,000 miles of the Pacific Ocean to the mainland.

The hiatus is for good reason, however, as the native of Wahiawa, Hawaii, hopes to make an impact in training camp and ultimately stick with the Chiefs.

"I haven't been home for three years almost, but I'm on the grind," Tuaau said. "I graduated with my bachelor's and I'm still trying to work. I miss everybody, but everybody knows what I'm trying to do with my life."

Kansas City Chiefs training camp: Jeremy Maclin an instant fit from NFL.com

Wide receiver Jeremy Maclin signed with the Chiefs this offseason partly because he was so comfortable with head coach Andy Reid, who drafted him in Philadelphia. Still, nobody knew Maclin would bond so quickly with quarterback Alex Smith once that deal was finalized. Maclin and Smith displayed an obvious feel for each other during Friday's morning practice, both on deep routes and intermediate pass plays (though it should be noted that Maclin was dealing with a strained neck Monday). The Maclin-Smith connection should thrill Chiefs fans who have been longing for more electricity from this passing attack. There have been plenty of jokes made about Smith's unwillingness to throw long and the fact that not one Chiefs receiver caught a touchdown pass in 2014. There should be no concerns about those issues this coming fall.

Chiefs aren't shy about elevated expectations for QB Alex Smith from The Associated Press via FS Kansas City

Alex Smith did everything the Kansas City Chiefs asked of him last season.

Now, he must do more.

The veteran quarterback with a reputation for being a game manager is being called upon to build on a solid if unremarkable season.

After signing a four-year, $68 million extension before training camp, Smith proceeded to throw for more than 3,000 yards and 18 touchdowns with only six interceptions, despite having his season cut a game short by injury.

But if the Chiefs hope to return to the playoffs -- and win their first postseason game since 1993 -- it will almost certainly be because their passing game flourishes this season.

Chiefs already seeing impact WR Jeremy Maclin could make in 2015 from USA Today

What Smith saw was a versatile player — a precise route runner who was also effective in the red zone after scoring 36 career touchdowns, including 10 in 2014. That intrigued Smith, especially given the lack of impact Kansas City's wideouts had last season. Not one of Smith's 18 touchdown passes last year was caught by a wide receiver.

Yet it wasn't until he starting throwing to Maclin this offseason and then going through fully padded, live-contact drills at training camp over the last week that the veteran passer could truly appreciate what he was getting in Maclin.

"He's so competitive. You just don't know that about a guy until you see him (live)," Smith told USA TODAY Sports. "You can watch tape and stuff, but then you see how competitive he is with the football and how competitive he is to win, just all the time."

Chiefs' De'Anthony Thomas hoping to shine at wide receiver from The Associated Press via KCTV5

There were moments last season when the Chiefs' De'Anthony Thomas resembled the player that rapper Snoop Dogg nicknamed "Black Mamba," a shifty do-everything star renowned for his speed and elusiveness on the Pop Warner playing fields.

There were also moments that he looked like a lost NFL rookie.

Now a year wiser and stronger, Thomas is hoping to build on that debut entering Year 2 with Kansas City. He's made the switch from running back to wide receiver, but the reality is the spot amounts to semantics — versatility remains a big part of his game.

Chiefs' Jamaal Charles not ‘LeBron James of football,' but may be NFL's Kevin Durant from The Topeka Capital-Journal

Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charlesmade headlines last week when he told reporters he believes he is "the LeBron James of football." Those are some big Nikes to fill, but Charles definitely has the statistics to boast such a claim.

However, when I think of the basketball version of Jamaal Charles, I don't think of King James — I think Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant.

The former Longhorns compare favorably when you consider how incredibly efficient they both have been at the highest levels of their respective sports.

Will Shields' legacy remains with Chiefs through their veteran players from ESPN

At 32 years of age and about to begin his 11th NFL season, linebacker Derrick Johnson is among the oldest and most experienced of Kansas City Chiefs players. His younger teammates often seek him out for advice whether it be life lessons or technical football tips...

"...I try to talk to a lot of the young guys about being a professional, how to stay in the league, how to be accountable,'' Johnson said. "When I do that, I think of Will Shields. He used to talk to me about those things.''

Here's how 'Madden' rates all 32 NFL teams from USA Today

AFC WEST

Broncos - 89

Kansas City Chiefs - 82

San Diego Chargers - 82

Oakland Raiders - 74

Texans' preseason opener will be instructive from The Houston Chronicle

Multiple positions have to be settled before the Texans play Kansas City in the first game of the regular season Sept. 13 at NRG Stadium.

That's why the preseason schedule is so important. At least five starting jobs must be determined by coach Bill O'Brien and his staff before the Texans kick off against the Chiefs.

The Texans have six practices behind them, including three in pads against Washington, and they have three this week before beginning the preseason schedule Saturday night at home against San Francisco.

5 Season Scenarios For The Denver Broncos from CBS Denver

3. THE NIGHTMARE SCENARIO: The Ravens know Gary Kubiak's entire playbook and blow the Broncos out in the season opener. On a short week the Broncos lose the Thursday nighter in Kansas City, and fall to 0-3 after Calvin Johnson catches 4 TDs in Detroit in Week 3. Broncos get one against the Vikings at home but then get embarrassed by the Raiders and the Browns on the road. On Pat Bowlen Ring of Fame night, the Packers get Super Bowl revenge and Aaron Rodgers proclaims "This one's for Brett."