Kansas City Chiefs News

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Tyquan Thornton • WR • Chiefs

Tyquan Thornton Suffers Strained Hamstring on Tuesday

The Kansas City Chiefs are saying that wide receiver Tyquan Thornton (hamstring) suffered a strained hamstring in Tuesday's training camp practice, according to Nate Taylor of ESPN. Thornton had to be carted to the locker room, so he is probably looking at missing some time going forward, although it's unclear if his hamstring strain is serious enough to potentially keep him out of the Week 1 Monday night showdown against the division-rival Denver Broncos. The 26-year-old almost certainly will not be active this Saturday for the preseason contest against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. If Thornton misses extensive time, it will give rookie Cyrus Allen and Jalen Royals more of an opportunity to earn WR3 duties in KC behind starters Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy. Thornton, a former second-rounder by the New England Patriots from Baylor, caught 19 of 37 targets for a career-high 438 yards and three touchdowns in 14 games in his first year with the Chiefs in 2025. If fully healthy, he mostly profiles as an unpredictable boom/bust downfield threat for the Chiefs' offense. It is hard to justify drafting Thornton in 12-team fantasy leagues if both Rice and Worthy are fully healthy.

Yesterday

Xavier Worthy • WR • Chiefs

Xavier Worthy Limited to 7-on-7 Work Monday

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy (shoulder) remained limited Monday as he works back from a shoulder sprain. Worthy took part in 7-on-7 drills but was held out of 11-on-11 work, according to Pete Sweeney. The injury dates back to August 1, and Worthy missed several practices before returning in a limited capacity on August 10. He has been getting more involved since then, including catching passes during offensive periods last Thursday, but Kansas City still isn't putting him through full-team work. Worthy appeared in 14 games last season while dealing with multiple injuries, finishing with 42 catches for 532 yards and one touchdown. Monday was another step forward, just not a full return. The next notable benchmark will be Worthy getting back into 11-on-11 drills as the Chiefs continue to manage the shoulder.

Yesterday

Emmett Johnson • RB • Chiefs

Emmett Johnson the Clear RB2 in Kansas City

Kansas City Chiefs rookie fifth-round running back Emmett Johnson appears to be the clear No. 2 RB in KC in training camp behind starter Kenneth Walker, with Johnson getting the next touch after Walker in 9-on-7 drills in Monday's practice, according to Pete Sweeney of The Kansas City Star. Head coach Andy Reid had good things to say about the Nebraska product after he carried the ball 12 times for 59 yards and caught all three of his targets for 10 yards during the preseason opener against the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday. Johnson's carries and rushing yards led the team. The 22-year-old was listed as the RB3 on the first unofficial depth chart of the preseason behind Walker and Emari Demercado, but if Johnson continues to run hard and look good in camp and the preseason, it would not be a surprise at all to see him open his rookie campaign as the primary backup in KC. In addition to Demercado, Johnson is competing with Brashard Smith for the backup role. Walker will be close to a bell-cow back in his first year with the Chiefs, but Johnson's pass-catching ability alone might make him the best upside handcuff option in KC.

2 days ago

Garrett Nussmeier • QB • Chiefs

Garrett Nussmeier Handles QB1 Duties In First Preseason Game

Kansas City Chiefs rookie quarterback Garrett Nussmeier completed 13 of his 19 pass attempts for 98 yards in the 20-12 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the preseason opener on Saturday. Nussmeier averaged 5.2 yards per completion and took two sacks in the contest. With superstar Patrick Mahomes and the rest of the Chiefs starters sitting out for the first preseason game, Nussmeier and the other Kansas City rookies had the opportunity to take the reins. Nussmeier was selected 249th overall in the seventh round and appears to be the QB behind Mahomes in the pecking order. Nussmeier may get the opportunity to start again next week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers if Mahomes remains sidelined, but he should not be viewed as a player to draft for the 2026 season.

3 days ago

Brashard Smith • RB • Chiefs

Brashard Smith Outshined in Preseason Opener

Kansas City Chiefs running back Brashard Smith drew the start in Saturday's preseason opener against the Rams, but in his battle to earn the primary backup role behind Kenneth Walker, the points in his favor end right about there. Smith carried the ball eight times for 21 yards and brought in both of his targets for an additional 12 yards, but he was outshined by rookie Emmett Johnson, who looked explosive in gaining 59 yards on his 12 carries. Johnson also added three catches for 10 yards and ran in a four-yard touchdown that was nullified by a holding penalty. As a rookie in 2025, Smith was unable to carve out a meaningful role in a backfield led by Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco, finishing the year with 323 yards and one touchdown on 79 total opportunities. With a significantly higher talent level in the room for 2026, he could struggle to find regular work and is not likely to make any fantasy impact without a notable injury ahead of him.

3 days ago

Emmett Johnson • RB • Chiefs

Emmett Johnson Productive in Pro Debut, Emerging as Potential Stash Candidate

Kansas City Chiefs running back Emmett Johnson was productive during his preseason debut versus the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday. He rushed the ball 12 times for 59 yards and hauled in all three of his targets for 10 additional yards through the air in the loss. Johnson led all running backs in both carries and rushing yards during Saturday's game. Head coach Andy Reid noted after the game that Johnson ran the ball hard and aggressively during this game. The rookie back is currently listed as the RB3, but could make a push for the second-string role. His next chance to impress will come against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on August 22.

3 days ago

Cyrus Allen • WR • Chiefs

Cyrus Allen Draws Team-High Targets on Saturday, Continues to See Fantasy Stock Soar

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Cyrus Allen caught two of his five targets for 20 yards during Saturday's preseason opener against the Los Angeles Rams. It wasn't the greatest statistical performance, but Allen's five targets led the entire Chiefs team, suggesting that he'll be able to carve out a significant role this season. Allen drew the start alongside Jalen Royals and Tyquan Thornton on Saturday, so it seems like those three receivers are competing for the No. 3 role behind Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy. The rookie appears to have an early leg up on the competition, and while there are still two more preseason games to be played, Allen is a quick riser in dynasty fantasy football leagues. The fifth-round pick out of Cincinnati currently ranks as the WR86 in RotoBaller's latest dynasty rankings.

3 days ago

Kenneth Walker • RB • Chiefs

Kenneth Walker Could See His Biggest Workload Yet

Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker could finally get the kind of workload he never quite had in Seattle. Jesse Newell of The Athletic reports that Walker is primed to be the Chiefs' clear workhorse after spending last season sharing carries with Zach Charbonnet. Walker still topped 1,000 yards, rushing 221 times for 1,027 yards and five touchdowns, but he was on the field for only 46.8% of Seattle's offensive snaps. Charbonnet had 184 carries of his own and saw 50 red-zone rushes to Walker's 31. Kansas City has been showing off another part of Walker's game in camp, too, getting him loose on screens more than once. Patrick Mahomes has been openly excited about what Walker can add, and the Chiefs currently list him first on the depth chart ahead of Emari Demercado and rookie Emmett Johnson. More work near the goal line and in the passing game would make Walker even more interesting after an already efficient 2025 season.

6 days ago

Tyreek Hill • WR • Chiefs

Chiefs Lead Polymarket Odds for Tyreek Hill

Free-agent wide receiver Tyreek Hill (knee) continues to be connected to his former team, but the latest link to the Kansas City Chiefs comes from a prediction market rather than an NFL report. According to NFL Rumors, Kansas City is currently the leading team on Polymarket's market for where Hill will play in 2026. The Chiefs are only around 12%, however, so this is hardly an indication that a reunion is close. Hill remains unsigned after Miami released him in February and is still working his way back from the major left knee injury he suffered last September. The 32-year-old said in July that he still had "no power" in the leg and has not announced a timetable for his return. Kansas City was reportedly planning to monitor Hill's recovery earlier in the offseason, but there has been no verified indication that a deal is currently in the works. For now, the Chiefs connection remains speculation rather than a developing transaction.

6 days ago

Patrick Mahomes • QB • Chiefs

Patrick Mahomes Will Not Play in Preseason Opener

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee) will not play in the team's preseason opener on Saturday against the Los Angeles Rams, head coach Andy Reid told Matt McMullen of the team's official website. With Mahomes sitting, Justin Fields, Garrett Nussmeier, and Chris Oladokun will split up the game under center. Mahomes has been participating in all 11-on-11 work in training camp as he recovers from a torn ACL and LCL in his knee last December, but the Chiefs are in no rush to throw the 30-year-old veteran into a preseason game, especially the first one. Barring a setback with his knee, Mahomes looks to be on track to suit up for the Week 1 showdown against the division-rival Denver Broncos on Monday night on Sept. 14. It will be a pretty tough first matchup for the two-time MVP as he and the Chiefs look to bounce back from missing the postseason entirely in 2025. Mahomes and KC's offense are looking for more explosiveness, and coming off major knee surgery, Mahomes is better off drafted as a low-end QB1/high-end QB2 this year with some question marks about his mobility going forward.

6 days ago

Travis Kelce • TE • Chiefs

Travis Kelce Says he Can Still "Play at a High Level"

In what could be his final NFL season in 2026, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce thinks he can still "play at a high level," according to Nate Taylor of ESPN. "I've still got a lot of love for this game," Kelce said Wednesday. "I want to go out there and prove to myself that I can play at a better level than I did last year. That's probably the biggest thing for me, is making sure I'm accountable to the guys in this [locker] room and every single play that I'm out there." The 36-year-old future Hall of Famer signed a one-year, $12 million deal to return to KC back in March after leading the team in targets (108), receptions (76), yards (851), touchdowns (five), and receiving first downs (45) in 2025. Despite his age, Kelce still managed to finish as a top-five fantasy football TE in half-PPR scoring last year. Kelce will still have fantasy value in 2026 in what could be his last season in the league, but he's no longer a top-flight TE1 and is ranked as the No. 12 TE at RotoBaller.

6 days ago

Rashee Rice • WR • Chiefs

Rashee Rice Not Expected to Face Additional Suspension

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice is not expected to be suspended again over the probation violation that resulted in him serving jail time earlier this offseason. According to Charles Goldman, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport does not expect the league to hand Rice another suspension after he served 30 days in a Texas jail. Rice tested positive for THC in May, violating the terms of the probation he received after the 2024 Dallas crash. The jail time was already part of his 2025 sentence, but the violation required him to serve it immediately. Rice had already served a six-game NFL suspension last season for his role in the crash, then caught 53 passes for 571 yards and five touchdowns in eight games. The NFL has not formally announced a decision on the probation violation, so Rapoport's report is not an official clearance. If it holds, Rice should not lose any more games over this particular matter and remains RotoBaller's WR16.

7 days ago

Travis Kelce • TE • Chiefs |

Kenneth Walker • RB • Chiefs

Kenneth Walker Called an "Absolute Superstar"

Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker continues to make a strong impression on his new teammates. According to Charles Goldman, Travis Kelce said Walker is "going to be a hell of a ball player for us," praised his all-around traits, and called him an "absolute superstar" on and off the field. Walker signed with Kansas City in March after rushing for 1,027 yards and five touchdowns on 221 carries for Seattle last season. He added 31 catches for 282 yards, then closed out the year by running for 135 yards and earning MVP honors in Super Bowl LX. The Chiefs have Walker listed first on their unofficial depth chart, and his receiving ability has been noticeable throughout camp, including a touchdown catch from Patrick Mahomes on a wheel route Monday. Kelce's comments are still teammate praise, but they fit everything Kansas City has seen from Walker since he arrived. He looks set for a significant role in the Chiefs' offense this season.

7 days ago

Travis Kelce • TE • Chiefs

Travis Kelce Still Refining His Craft

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and quarterback Patrick Mahomes are in their ninth training camp together as starters, and according to senior team reporter Matt McMullen, the duo was in full force on Tuesday. A Pro Bowler in each of the past 11 seasons, the soon-to-be-37-year-old Kelce is still refining his craft, and with him and Mahomes working meticulously through the finer points of the offense, the two connected on a handful of completions during team drills. Relying ever more on details than athleticism, Kelce still projects to be a major piece of the Chiefs' passing offense in 2026, and at RotoBaller's TE12, he's become a late-round option with one of the position's safest floors and a realistic chance to see triple-digit targets for the 12th consecutive season.

7 days ago

Rashee Rice • WR • Chiefs

Rashee Rice Calls Jail Time a "Reality Check"

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice spoke Tuesday about the 30-day jail sentence he served earlier this offseason, calling it a "reality check." According to Nate Taylor, Rice said it is in the past and that he is focused on the future. Rice was ordered to report to jail in May after testing positive for THC, a violation of the probation he received after pleading guilty to two felony charges stemming from the 2024 Dallas crash. The jail term had already been part of his original sentence, but the positive test led to it being served immediately. Rice also had a cleanup procedure on his right knee shortly before entering jail and missed OTAs and mandatory minicamp, though he has since worked his way back into 11-on-11 drills at training camp. He caught 53 passes for 571 yards and five touchdowns in eight games last season. RotoBaller currently has Rice 36th overall and WR16, and his progress in camp is the more important fantasy development going forward.

Aug 11

Cyrus Allen • WR • Chiefs

Cyrus Allen Standing Out Again in Training Camp Practice

Kansas City Chiefs rookie wide receiver Cyrus Allen has been one of the early standouts at training camp this summer for the Chiefs. The 23-year-old fifth-rounder from the University of Cincinnati missed some time with a shin injury last week, but he's back on the field again and had the first two completions from quarterback Patrick Mahomes on Tuesday during the early team blitz period, per The Kansas City Star's Pete Sweeney. Allen has built clear chemistry with Mahomes in practice. However, if all of Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, and Tyquan Thornton are healthy during the regular season, Allen is going to be fighting an uphill battle for consistent snaps on offense. The 5-foot-11, 180-pounder never had more than 778 receiving yards in his four collegiate seasons at Cincinnati, Texas A&M, and Louisiana Tech, but he did manage to score 13 touchdowns on 51 receptions with the Bearcats in 2025. It's hard to envision major fantasy upside for Allen in 2026, but he's an interesting stash candidate in dynasty/keeper leagues.

Aug 11

Jalen Royals • WR • Chiefs

Jalen Royals Continues to Draw Targets in Training Camp

Kansas City Chiefs second-year wide receiver Jalen Royals continues to draw targets from quarterback Patrick Mahomes in training camp this summer, and he hauled in a touchdown pass deep down the field in practice on Monday, according to Pete Sweeney of The Kansas City Star. Royals made a minimal impact last year as a rookie after he was selected in the fourth round out of Utah State, catching just two of three targets for four yards in seven games played for the Chiefs. However, the 23-year-old has made some noise in camp this summer with Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, and rookie Cyrus Allen recently missing practice time due to injuries. It's something to watch as the summer progresses, but as long as all of the Chiefs' pass-catchers are ready for the start of the 2026 regular season, Royals will be in a depth role without enough playing time to matter in most fantasy football leagues. With Allen also impressing in camp, Royals could be the WR5 heading into Week 1 behind Rice, Worthy, Tyquan Thornton, and Allen. At best, Royals is a stash in dynasty/keeper leagues for his long-term upside and athleticism at the WR position.

Aug 10

Xavier Worthy • WR • Chiefs

Xavier Worthy Returns to Practice Monday

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy (shoulder) returned to practice Monday after missing time with a shoulder sprain, according to Matt Derrick. Worthy sat out practice last week while recovering from the injury, making his return a positive step with Kansas City's preseason opener against the Los Angeles Rams coming Saturday. The third-year receiver is coming off a 2025 season in which he caught 42 passes for 532 yards and one touchdown across 14 games while dealing with multiple injuries. Worthy had also been one of the Chiefs' more productive players during the offseason program before the latest setback. It is not yet clear how much work he handled Monday, so his participation over the next few practices should give a better indication of where he stands.

Aug 10

Noah Gray • TE • Chiefs

Noah Gray Waiting His Turn in Kansas City

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Noah Gray remains the second-string tight end, working behind future Hall-of-Famer Travis Kelce. After back-to-back strong seasons in 2024 and 2025, Gray struggled last season, hauling in 21 of 37 targets for 178 yards and no touchdowns. When asked what he's learning from the veteran tight end, Gray said, "I'm privileged to be on the same team as him, to pick his mind, to watch him continue to make great plays; that's just the type of player and dude he is." With Kelce remaining the team's TE1, Gray will need to bounce back to his previous form to have any fantasy relevance in 2026. He remains a late-round dynasty option, with Kelce expected to contemplate retirement after the season.

Aug 9

Patrick Mahomes • QB • Chiefs |

Kenneth Walker • RB • Chiefs

Kenneth Walker Labeled as a Difference-Maker by his New QB

Speaking to the media on Saturday, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said the addition of running back Kenneth Walker will be the biggest difference-maker in the team's offense in 2026. When asked what will differentiate their struggling 2025 attack from this season's, Mahomes responded, "Number 9. That's all I can say. The ability to catch, run, pass protect, do everything. To make a play from nothing to a 20-yard gain, that's going to be the biggest impact we'll have. I have to find ways to get him the football." Walker signed with the Chiefs this offseason after a Super Bowl MVP season with the Seattle Seahawks. He's currently ranked RB8 in RotoBaller's positional rankings, but it sounds like a 20+ attempt season is in the works for the new Kansas City starting running back.

Aug 9

Kansas City Chiefs News

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