Fourth practice: Seals-Jones injured, but Nnadi returns

As the rest of the NFL’s teams opened their schedule of padded practices in training camp, the Kansas City Chiefs turned in their fourth on Monday morning; the Chiefs and Houston Texans got a three-day head start since they are scheduled to open the season against each other on Thursday, September 10.

Monday’s practice was a light 10-10-10 practice, in which the team cycles through 10 offensive plays, 10 defensive plays and 10 minutes of special teams. In the offensive portion, the defense acts as a scout team, giving the offense a chance to see how the plays will work in a best-case situation. Then the tables are turned in the defensive portion.

The big news from the session was that tight end Ricky Seals-Jones was carted from the practice field with what the Chiefs said was a leg injury. Since fellow tight end Deon Yelder has already been missing practices while nursing a groin injury, this leaves the team only with starter Travis Kelce, Nick Keizer and former San Francisco 49ers tight end Daniel Helm, whom the Chiefs acquired from waivers on Sunday.

Defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi — who hasn’t appeared on the field since padded practices began on Friday — returned to the field Monday morning. On Sunday, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said Nnadi had been dealing with an ankle injury.

Meanwhile, left tackle Eric Fisher was again held from practice after suffering from a concussion on Sunday; he remains in the protocol.

Defensive tackle Chris Jones, cornerback Antonio Hamilton and wide receiver Sammy Watkins also missed practice as they continued to nurse groin injuries. Wide receiver Byron Pringle again stayed out with his knee injury and cornerback Lavert Hill missed another day with a strained hamstring.

Safety Juan Thornhill and offensive lineman Martinas Rankin also didn’t practice. Both remain on the physically-unable-to-perform list. Linebacker Darius Harris had another excused absence.