With virtual offseason over, Chiefs face some unanswered questions before training camp
On the surface, the Chiefs look fine during this break ahead of their annual summer training camp.
The COVID-19 pandemic brought the sports world to a halt in March, right when the Chiefs and the rest of the NFL were preparing for their offseason workout programs.
Instead of evaluating progress during rookie minicamp, organized team activities (OTAs) and a three-day mandatory minicamp, coach Andy Reid and his coaching staff relied on video calls to hold team and position-group meetings. The players were then left on their own to conduct workouts apart from their coaches.
Still, the Super Bowl-champion Chiefs should have an advantage.
Unlike so many other teams around the league, the Chiefs were arguably well-equipped to deal with this year’s interruption. Their roster from 2019 remains mostly intact and team leadership is in good hands on both sides of the ball, with quarterback Patrick Mahomes and safety Tyrann Mathieu setting the example.
But the Chiefs do have some unanswered questions before training camp begins.
Here are five of those dilemmas.
1. WHAT’S UP WITH NO. 95?
Chiefs general manager Brett Veach has stated numerous times during the offseason that keeping defensive tackle Chris Jones in Kansas City is a top priority.
So before either going wild with speculation about a trade that would send their non-exclusive franchise player packing, it’s important to keep in mind that the NFL is a deadline-driven league.
Here’s the bottom line: The date to circle is July 15. That’s the deadline for the Chiefs to work out a long-term contract with Jones.
In the event a deal is not in place by July 15, the two sides would need to wait for the end of the season before reconvening at the negotiating table. Outside of a sign-and-trade scenario, Jones would play the 2020 season under the franchise tag, which carries a $16.1 million price tag, provided he signs it.
2. WHO LINES UP AT LEFT GUARD?
Stefen Wisniewski, who started during the Chiefs’ postseason run to the Super Bowl, signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers during free agency.
His departure left a hole on the Chiefs’ offensive line. The Chiefs moved quickly by bringing in veteran Mike Remmers on a one-year deal. They also have Andrew Wylie, who gave way to Wisniewski late in 2019, returning.
But if there’s a position group that is difficult to evaluate outside of the team-related drills of OTAs, it’s the offensive line.
Remmers, with 78 career starts over nine seasons, projects as the favorite to win the starting job this fall. But it is unclear at this stage whether he’s experienced any issues in adjusting to the Chiefs’ scheme given his lack of on-field repetitions within Reid’s offense.
If Remmers isn’t the answer, the Chiefs appear to have adequate depth at the position in Wylie and Martinas Rankin, who drew five starts at left guard before suffering a season-ending knee injury last fall. The Chiefs also signed a pair of versatile undrafted free agents: Darryl Williams, who can play center and guard, and Mizzou’s Yasir Durant, who can play guard and tackle.
3. WILL BREELAND MISS TIME?
It’s approaching two months since cornerback Bashaud Breeland was arrested in late April on charges of resisting arrest; transporting alcohol in a motor vehicle with the seal broken; open container of beer or wine in a motor vehicle; possession of 28 grams or less of marijuana or 10 grams of hash; and driving without a license.
Reid said in early May that he had seen video of Breeland’s arrest and that the two had talked, but Breeland still faces a court date.
Reid made it clear the team won’t rush to judgment, instead allowing the legal process to work itself out. And the Chiefs have depth for a next-man-up scenario in the event Breeland misses time due to a league-imposed suspension at the start of the season.
Charvarius Ward, Rashad Fenton and Alex Brown all return from last year’s roster. Additionally, the Chiefs signed Antonio Hamilton during free agency and selected defensive backs L’Jarius Sneed and BoPete Keyes in this year’s NFL Draft.
Ward is a starter, of course, and Fenton could get a shot at a starting job if Breeland is unavailable to begin the regular season. His experience in the Chiefs’ scheme gives Fenton an edge, especially in the absence of OTAs.
4. THE PUNTER SITUATION
There are several intriguing situations to monitor this summer, such as how the Chiefs plan to incorporate rookie Clye Edwards-Helaire into their running game and whether linebacker Willie Gay Jr. can become an immediate starter.
But with the release of Dustin Colquitt, the Chiefs are set to enter the regular season with a new punter for the first time since 2005.
The choices for special teams coordinator Dave Toub to consider are Tyler Newsome and rookie Tommy Townsend. Toub said during an offseason video call that he is impressed with both players.
Whoever emerges victorious in this position battle will be required to do more than just punt. Colquitt was also the holder on field goals, so there’s a lot of responsibility inherent in this job.
Newsome and Townsend have both been working out with long-snapper James Winchester and kicker Harrison Butker, but time on the field is needed before the coaching staff can decide who to keep.
5. ENTERING THE UNKNOWN
The Chiefs have been preparing as if there will be season this fall, and the NFL would like nothing more than to have one.
But the COVID-19 pandemic, which has now claimed more than 120,000 lives in the U.S., remains a very real threat.
Since the Chiefs concluded their virtual offseason last week, the NFL has seen players or staff members from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, San Francisco 49ers and Denver Broncos test positive. The NFLPA recently released an advisory saying players should not train together in private groups before training camp.
In other professional sports, the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning and MLB’s Toronto Blue Jays were forced to temporarily shut down their training facilities because of positive COVID tests. The Orlando Pride withdrew from the NWSL Challenge Cup tournament after multiple players tested positive. And in the realm of college athletics, multiple positives have also shown up at Kansas State, LSU and Clemson.
The NFL has unveiled a three-tiered protocol system in hopes of allowing players to return to their teams’ respective training facilities, but this spate of recent positive test results across the sports world illustrates well the challenges facing the league.
Texas, Florida and Arizona are among the states trending in the wrong direction. And combined, those states are home to six NFL teams.
Will the Chiefs be able to report to training camp, which will be conducted at the their KC training facility and not St. Joseph, Missouri, on time in late July?
The answer remains to be seen.
This story was originally published June 24, 2020 at 5:00 AM with the headline "With virtual offseason over, Chiefs face some unanswered questions before training camp."
