Arrowheadlines: Kansas City Chiefs News 7/24

Pre-Camp Reads: Looking at TE Travis Kelce from Chiefs.com

Travis Kelce is becoming one of the most recognizable young superstars in the league, and it's fair to say over the course of the next year, all NFL fans will know all about the Kansas City Chiefs tight end. He's not afraid to be himself and that's obvious any time he finds the end zone.

Kelce has put together back-to-back seasons of at least 65 receptions, 850 yards and 5 touchdowns, and he was named to his first Pro Bowl in 2015.

While in Hawaii for the Pro Bowl back in January, Kelce signed a lucrative contract extension that will keep him in Kansas City for the foreseeable future.

Countdown: Best Chiefs Media of the Week from Chiefs.com

1. ARTICLE: Five Storylines to Follow During Kansas City Chiefs Training Camp

Jamaal Charles' return to the field

The franchise's all-time leading rusher returns to the field after suffering a season-ending knee injury in Week 5 of last season.

Throughout his career, Jamaal Charles has proven to be one of the league's elite offensive playmakers.

He's the NFL's all-time leader in yards per carry, and he has scored more touchdowns over the past three seasons (38) than any other player in the league despite playing in fewer games (35) than anyone in the top 15 of that category.

Charles went through individual drills for two days at minicamp back in June as he works his way through the rehab process, but he wasn't a participant for any of the team periods. READ

Chiefs' top position battles heading into training camp from The Kansas City Star

5. "X" receiver

With Jeremy Maclin penciled in as the starting "Z" receiver and unquestioned No. 1 target, whichever receiver starts opposite him probably won't see the ball much, especially because tight end Travis Kelce will get a fair share of touches. Albert Wilson, a third-year pro, was the Chiefs' third-leading receiver a year ago with 35 catches for 451 yards and two touchdowns, but he spent more time in the slot this spring during organized team activities, which meant more reps on the outside for gifted 2015 third-rounder Chris Conley. Wilson and Conley each took a positive steps forward this offseason but must still be more consistent. If not, veteran Rod Streater could easily step into the role.

Overview of Chiefs' training camp roster from Chiefs Digest

The Kansas City Chiefs are set to enter training camp with the league maximum of 90 players on the offseason roster, which breaks down as 44 on offense, 43 on defense and three specialists...

...Here is how the Chiefs roster shapes out (rookie are italicized) for training camp, which officially begins with a full practice on July 30:

Alex Smith cautiously optimistic about Chiefs' chances in coming season from The Kansas City Star

Alex Smith and the Chiefs finally put an end to the Joe Montana references last December.

No longer is Montana the answer to the trivia question: Who was under center the last time the Chiefs won a playoff game?

After terminating the franchise's 23-year stretch without winning a playoff game with a 30-0 thumping of the Houston Texas and nearly upsetting the New England Patriots, the centerpiece of the Chiefs' 2015 successful season says it's presumptuous to expect an ever better season in 2016.

PATIENCE (K)NEEDED: Chiefs head to camp with injuries, other question marks from The Associated Press via The Salina Journal

The Kansas City Chiefs might want to have Dr. James Andrews on speed dial.

Or better yet, fly him into training camp.

When the Chiefs begin their run-up to the regular season on the campus of Missouri Western this week, they will do so with the biggest question marks involving the knees of some key players: running back Jamaal Charles, pass rusher Tamba Hali and star outside linebacker Justin Houston.

Charles had surgery on his right ACL early last season, Hali had a procedure to clean out his knees and Houston had surgery on his left ACL — performed by Andrews, the renowned orthopedic surgeon — in February.

How the three of them fare this season could be the difference between success and failure.

Tickets on sale for Montana Football Hall of Fame inductions from The Helena Independent Record

Those selected for the inaugural class include Harvey Munford (Eastern Montana College/LA Rams); Jan Stenerud, (Montana State/Kansas City Chiefs, Green bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings); Milan, Bill and Pete Lazetich; Pat Donovan (Helena High/Dallas Cowboys0; Brian Salonen (Great Falls/Dallas Cowboys); Mitch Donahue (Billings West/San Francisco 49ers/Denver Broncos); Dave Dickenson, CMR/CFL, current head coach of Calgary Stampeders); Chris Horn, Rocky Mountain College/Kansas City Chiefs); and Tuff Harris (Colstrip/Dolphins, Saints, Titans, Steelers).

NFL training camps preview: Looking at questions surrounding each team from The Los Angeles Times

Kansas City

Camp location: St. Joseph, Mo.

Hello: It wasn't a splashy, headline-stealing move, but the Chiefs picked up a rock-solid tackle in Mitchell Schwartz, a starter in Cleveland the past four seasons.

Goodbye: Safeties Husain Abdullah and Tyvon Branch are gone, along with defensive tackle Mike DeVito, and backup quarterback Chase Daniel.

Big question: The Chiefs made an incredible U-turn last season, starting 1-5 before winning 10 in a row and making the playoffs. Now, they're getting back injured stars Jamaal Charles, Justin Houston and Tamba Hali. Are they poised to go deep into the playoffs this year, or is it just more warning-track power?

Cowboys prospect Gathers tries to make transition to football from The Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Few NFL teams today invest much time, if any, scouting basketball players. The Kansas City Chiefs are one. They drafted Demetrius Harris in 2013. The 6-foot-7 power forward from Wisconsin-Milwaukee, a school that doesn't field a football team, made the Chiefs' practice squad that first season and has 10 receptions in 24 games since, including playing in all 16 games last season.

Goodson, the Packers' sixth-round pick in 2014, said he sees the obvious traits in Gathers that have the Cowboys grooming him at tight end. However, Goodson sees an alternate position.

The Silver Lining In J.J. Watt's Back Surgery from Battle Red Blog

Recovery will be yet another challenge for a guy who seems to be addicted to, well, obliterating challenges. Watt will be just fine. Trust me. If the Chicago Bears or Kansas City Chiefs are planning to enjoy a visit to NRG Stadium without having to deal with "99 problems," they're sadly mistaken. I say that the big guy will be ready to play Week One, and he will torment those offensive lines as he typically does.

On the surface, the injury report and recovery timetable seem like pretty grim news, and it's certainly possible (despite my optimism) that Watt does miss regular season games. But let's focus on the silver lining in this situation. For the first time since Watt was drafted in 2011 and became the living personification of the Incredible Hulk in pads, theTexans have to finally game-plan and consider scenarios of how the defense (and the entire team, for that matter) will look on the field without Watt.