St. Joseph
The Kansas City Chiefs held their first full-squad practice of training camp on Wednesday following a three-day weekend ramp-up for rookies and quarterbacks.
It was a shorter workout as part of the league’s mandatory five-day acclimation period.
Here are some things that stood out.
Battle watch: As expected on Day 1
The Chiefs’ two most important battles of training camp live at right tackle and inside the defensive back room.
On Wednesday, Jaylon Moore took all the first-team reps at right tackle. Esa Pole and undrafted free agent Kahlil Benson are expected to rotate in after doing so during the summer.
During the early defensive period, L’Jarius Sneed and Nohl Williams were the outside cornerbacks, with Chris Roland-Wallace inside at nickel. Alohi Gilman and Chamarri Conner were at safety.
In a planned, specialized ramp-up, Sneed left the field before team drills, with rookie first-rounder Mansoor Delane taking his place with the first group.
Stock up: rookie wide receiver Cyrus Allen
It’s just Day 1 — the first of 18 practices set to be held in St. Joseph — and that context matters for second-year receiver Jalen Royals, who had an otherwise forgettable day on the practice field at Missouri Western State University.
During an 11-on-11 situational period, wide receiver Tyquan Thornton dropped a quick slant from Patrick Mahomes before Royals appeared to run a different route than Mahomes expected, leading to an incompletion.
Head coach Andy Reid and Mahomes could be seen giving Royals instruction after the play.
Later in 11-on-11, Mahomes hit Royals on a quick pass, only for the receiver to have the ball ripped out by Conner. Four plays later, Mahomes threw a pass downfield, but Royals was late to turn his head around as the ball fell incomplete.
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Cyrus Allen walks towards the practice field at Chiefs training camp on Sunday, July 26, 2026, in St. Joseph. Dominick Williams [email protected]
“He’s got a good feel for the game,” Reid said of Royals afterward. “He’s just got to keep on with the reps and make sure he’s got a good relationship there with Pat and keeps developing that.”
The Chiefs selected Royals in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, but he hardly saw the field, even near season’s end with Kansas City mathematically ruled out of the playoffs. The Chiefs added to the room in this year’s draft by taking Cyrus Allen in the fifth round.
By contrast, Allen looked sharp with Mahomes on Day 1, hauling in three passes — including a touchdown — from Mahomes in 7-on-7. Allen saw an incomplete target in 11-on-11 later in the workout, but he may have had his jersey tugged by Delane.
“Cyrus had a good day (Wednesday),” Reid said. “I think Pat’s got some trust there. We got a long way to go, but we just got to keep growing.
“(Allen’s) got talent, obviously. He’s been able to retain. Plus he got a lead-up here for three days before he got out there (Wednesday). So the stuff that he was doing, he’s been doing the last couple of days.”
Other team period notes
During 7-on-7, cornerback Nohl Williams stayed stride for stride downfield with wide receiver Xavier Worthy to prevent a completion from Mahomes.
Linebacker Drue Tranquill broke up a fade attempt to running back Kenneth Walker, leading to Mahomes amusingly calling for a flag from phantom officials. Tranquill shook his head in response. Linebacker Jack Cochrane intercepted Justin Fields.
Field goal session
Harrison Butker was 10 of 12 during the team’s field-goal period, with misses only from 42 and 57 yards. After the initial miss from 57, Butker made the second try to conclude the period.
Target practice: Mahomes in 7-on-7, 11-on-11
Mahomes in 7-on-7: tight end Travis Kelce (3), wide receiver Cyrus Allen (3), running back Kenneth Walker (2), tight end Jared Wiley (2), tight end Noah Gray, wide receiver Tyquan Thornton, wide receiver Xavier Worthy
Mahomes in 11-on-11: wide receiver Jalen Royals (3), wide receiver Cyrus Allen, wide receiver Tyquan Thornton
Injury report
The Chiefs began (and finished) their first practice mostly healthy. Here’s the full roundup.
This story was originally published July 29, 2026 at 3:04 PM.
Related Stories from Kansas City Star
Pete Sweeney
The Kansas City Star
Pete Sweeney is The Star’s Kansas City Chiefs insider and beat writer. He has covered the team since 2014.
