Andy Reid roundup: 4 takeaways from the Chiefs head coach

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid met with the media over Zoom conference call Monday, six days before the team takes on the Cleveland Browns in their Week 1 opener.

Listen to the full presser above or by clicking here. Here were the most significant takeaways:

Reid provided notes on safety Tyrann Mathieu and running backs Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Darrel Williams.

Mathieu was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list on September 1.

“He’s still in the protocol, so we just have to weigh that out and see where he’s at,” said Reid. “I mean, I’ll know more as we go on.”

Running backs Clyde Edwards-Helaire (hamstring) and Darrel Williams (concussion protocol) had been injured toward the end of the preseason, but it sounds as though they will be ready for the game against the Browns on Sunday.

“They practiced this past week and did a nice job with it. It looked like they were moving around pretty good, so I think we’ll be OK there.”

Reid complimented the Browns on their offseason additions.

The Chiefs last played the Browns in the 2020 Divisional round, and since then, the Browns have added safeties John Johnson, cornerback Troy Hill and defensive end Jadeveon Clowney — among others.

“They’ve got a heck of a football team,” said Reid. “They feel like they’ve made themselves better this offseason, and I can understand why. They’ve added a few people in the secondary, and they’ve added Clowney up front. The linebacker position is a little different.”

In last year’s meeting, wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. was unavailable due to injury, but he is expected to play the Chiefs on Sunday.

“Offensively, they got a couple guys back, so they’re pretty good football players, and so they’re fully loaded, and they’re good. And they’re well-coached. Kevin (Stefanski) has done a nice job up there.”

Reid emphasized the importance of Sunday’s matchup despite it being the first game of the year.

With the Browns on the rise, the game’s result may end up having playoff implications in the AFC by the season’s end.

“It’s the first game; It’s one of 17,” noted Reid. “It’s as important as the rest of them. It’s just, it’s happening now. There’s nothing before this that’s gotten you to this point, so there’s unknowns. If you’re on the offensive side of the ball, what’s the defense going to do? If you’re on the defensive side, what’s the offense going to do? What are the new looks on special teams that they’re going to throw at you?

“There’s a little bit more unknown than you would have as you get through the third and fourth game of the season. That’s the part I get excited about, gets your juices going. Plus, you get to start the season, that’s always exciting. Here we get to start it at home, which is great, against a very good football team.”

Reid is eager to get back in front of a full Arrowhead Stadium crowd for a regular-season game.

If the environment of the Chiefs’ lone home preseason game (against the Minnesota Vikings) is any indication, Arrowhead Stadium should be rocking on Sunday.

“I’m probably speaking for all of us that after watching this weekend with the college games, it was pretty amazing,” said Reid. “I mean it was goosebump-ish, so you watch that, and the people were into it. I almost felt like they were kind of let out of camps, and we have freedom again here that they can go to these games. It was very exciting. I look forward to GEHA Field at Arrowhead being as exciting as it’s been and maybe a little bit more. And I know the players feed off of that too.”