The first batch of Kansas City Chiefs players will head to St. Joe for the start of training camp. Despite the first official practice not being until Saturday, the Chiefs rookies and quarterbacks are allowed to go up a few days earlier. They will arrive on Tuesday, July 26 and hold practices July 27-29 of this week before the first official practice on Saturday, July 30.
There are 19 rookies and four quarterbacks on the roster. I’m not sure if there will be any other first or second year players there. The Chiefs haven’t released a list.
There are a couple of things you hope to get out of this early period. First, get all the rookies acclimated to the environment. They’re going to be living in a dorm for the next three weeks. It’s all new to them. It can be uncomfortable.
This can also be a valuable time for the quarterbacks to get their rhythm back. Alex Smith is going to get the most snaps in camp so this gives Tyler Bray, Aaron Murray and rookie Kevin Hogan some more work. It can be a nice warmup period.
The other thing you hope for here is no injuries. Sanders Commings comes to mind. He was a rookie in 2013 when he was hurt for the year on the first few days of camp. The next year the same thing happened. Just hope for no injuries.
The early practices are not open to the public but other than who’s there and who got injured there isn’t much to report back on these.