Before the training camp began, Xavier Worthy had noted that Andy Reid was planning on driving the receivers hard, along with the rest of the roster. “Coach Reid told us during the OTAs, Phase I, ‘When you come back, get your hamstrings ready.’ So, he kind of knew that we were going to be going a little deep in practice, so we kind of got our bodies and our minds ready [for] what we were going to be doing in practice.” But for all the preparation and anticipation surrounding the Chiefs’ training camp, things have notably taken a turn for the worse.

Right on the cusp of the preseason, Andy Reid’s chances at early glory are already slipping away. When the training camp began, CB Kristian Fulton, RB Jawaan Taylor, and draft addition Tre Watson were sidelined due to injuries. While two of them came back, TE Jake Briningstool joined the PUP list. While the injury list already looked grim, the problem seems to have increased since then for the Chiefs. And this time, Patrick Mahomes’ offensive pieces have received a big blow this Tuesday out of St. Joseph.

You don’t want the receiver room injured even before playing the preseason snaps. But Andy Reid is now staring at not one, but three receivers reeling from his excruciating training campaign. As Charles Goldman noted on X, “Hollywood Brown has an ankle injury. Skyy Moore has a hamstring injury. Xavier Worthy banged his head, per Chiefs HC Andy Reid.” For what could have been a stoic rise for the receiver room back in prime health, the narrative has shifted in the course of a single injury update from the coach.

Rashee Rice is facing legal trouble, 30 days of jail time, and even a possible NFL suspension following his car accident in Dallas. At the training camp, Hollywood Brown was notably seen limping after running a route. Coach Reid voiced optimism while speaking about the injury as he noted, “I don’t think it’s too bad, but we’ll see. We’ll see how it goes.” Last season, Xavier Worthy had already been sidelined at the OTAs with a left hamstring injury. He also missed the minicamps as Reid chose to remain on the side of caution. This year’s camp seems to be repeating history and delivering blows to the head for Worthy – literally. But Worthy did eventually come back to the field, as per reports. So, concerns surrounding his injury may not be that severe.

For Skyy Moore, the details or the severity of his hamstring injury hasn’t been disclosed yet. But the receiver was coming back from a core muscle injury that derailed his ‘24 campaign. Now as he exited the field early along with Brown, things aren’t looking too good for the young receiver. The three injuries, though, were not the only things that went south. All of this comes on the heels of a major fistfight that broke out at the Chiefs’ camp. What’s happening in Kansas City ahead of the new season?

Andy Reid’s rookies losing tempers at training camp

Teammates taking a swing in the NFL isn’t new. Especially after the pads go on in the July heat. And on day 3 of the practice with pads, on a day that already saw three premium receivers injured, there were more woes in store for the Chiefs. One of Patrick Mahomes’ draft choices, the first-round DT Josh Simmons, had a scuffle with another rookie, DE Ashton Gillotte.

As Chiefs insiders shared the news of the fight, Simmons and Gillotte were in the middle of a 9-on-7 period repetition. As Mahomes took a snap and the play began, Simmons tried to block Gillotte. Simmons tossed Gillotte to the ground in the middle of the rep. Gillotte responded by grabbing Simmons’ jersey and shoving him. Simmons, losing his temper, threw a punch at Gillotte’s helmet, and Gillotte followed suit. The two became embroiled in a fistfight while their teammates struggled to put some distance between the two. Even Coach Reid had to step in to break up the fight. 

Simmons and Gillotte both came to Kansas City following their high draft status and Andy Reid’s mission to protect Mahomes. But after this fistfight, analysts are wondering what the repercussions could be. Teams don’t usually suspend their players for exchanging blows in camp. But the two will surely need to work on their chemistry ahead of the season. With the receiving corps already looking battered before a ‘25 NFL snap, the defensive synergy will be all the more important now. Is this the end of the Chiefs’ camp setbacks, or are there even more curveballs in store?