Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes emphasize importance of wearing masks at Arrowhead Stadium
Chiefs coach Andy Reid enjoyed Saturday’s practice, which was held at Arrowhead Stadium in front of approximately 2,000 season-ticket members.
Reid complimented the fans’ enthusiasm, noting he observed people wearing masks when he looked up. The Chiefs, of course, mandated the wearing of masks at all times inside the venue, with the lone exception surrounding actively eating or drinking.
While the Chiefs head coach sounded pleased overall with Saturday’s event, Reid said he heard that some fans weren’t wearing their masks before emphasizing the importance of complying with the rules.
“We’re all working on it,” Reid said after Sunday’s practice. “So it’s important, I know, with our fans — we’ve got the best fans in the National Football League — that they continue to work and keep their masks on if they did take them off.
“Just like we’re doing with the players in meetings and anytime they’re off the practice field they’ve got their masks on. Good examples to all.”
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes echoed Reid’s observance of a majority of fans wearing their mask.
But the reigning Super Bowl MVP is aware of the video clips and photos making the rounds on social media showing the opposite.
“Obviously, there were certain people that didn’t have masks on,” Mahomes said. “I think you saw it on video and stuff like that, but it’s a learning process.
“It’s something that I’m sure the Chiefs’ security and everybody will pull, really emphasize, to fans that we have to have the masks on. If you’re not eating or drinking, put the mask on. And not only for yourself, but for the people around you so everybody feels safe when they come into Arrowhead Stadium.”
The Chiefs are the first team in the NFL to open a training camp practice to fans during the COVID-19 pandemic, which the Centers for Disease and Control (CDC) says has claimed more than 170,000 lives in the U.S.
So, there is a lot of visibility around the league about how the Chiefs operate with a fan presence, especially as the Las Vegas Raiders, New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks and other teams have already announced spectators won’t be allowed at games to start the regular season.
“Our fans know that everybody is watching and we’re the example,” Reid said. “We take a lot of pride in that with our fans and our football team.”
From clearly marked socially distanced spots painted on the ground to reminders in bathrooms to wash hands for 20 seconds, the Chiefs’ efforts to ensure safety leading to Saturday’s fan event were on full display around the stadium, and will be again ahead of another, larger fan opportunity they have planned for next Saturday, Aug. 29.
The mandate of wearing of masks at all times, regardless if outdoors and properly socially distanced from others, at Arrowhead Stadium experienced a hiccup the first time around.
But the Chiefs have an opportunity to identify new solutions before next weekend’s fan event — which will be open to 5,000 season-ticket members — and their Sept. 10 season opener against Houston at Arrowhead.
“We’ll do this again this next Saturday and add some more people in there,” Reid said. “Again, the protocol ends up being important for all of us and we’ll keep working on that.”
Mahomes agreed.
“I think that’s what that practice was for,” he said. “And then the next week whenever we have people in the stadium is we’re going to kind of get those protocols, kind of getting used to the different stuff so that we can go into the season and have people there and have the support of Chiefs Kingdom.”
PARTICIPATION REPORT
The Chiefs were back in full pads Sunday after donning shells the previous day.
Wide receiver Tyreek Hill continues to rest his hamstring injury and worked off to the side with a trainer during practice.
The Chiefs also practiced without tight end Deon Yelder (groin), offensive lineman Martinas Rankin (knee), defensive end Mike Danna (calf), defensive end Alex Okafor (calf) and linebacker Damien Wilson (undisclosed).
Defensive end Demone Harris (back) returned to practice Saturday after missing the past two days of work.
Safety Juan Thornhill (knee) participated in seven-on-seven drills in full pads for the first time since coming off the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. The Chiefs plan to ramp up Thornhill before the start of the regular season, but Sunday is a good sign he is on the way to the next stop of full team drills barring a setback.
Left tackle Eric Fisher, who returned to practice Saturday after suffering a concussion last weekend, participated in some team-related drills.
Defensive tackle Mike Pennel left the practice field and walked inside under his own power a little more than halfway through the morning practice session.
ENCOURAGEMENT TO AN OLD FRIEND
Reid has a good relationship and stays in touch with numerous former assistants, a group that includes NFL head coaches Ron Rivera, Sean McDermott, Doug Pederson, John Harbaguh and Matt Nagy.
Reid said he immediately reached out to Rivera after his announcement Thursday that he’s been diagnosed with cancer.
Reid believes Rivera’s experiences of playing in the NFL and losing a brother to cancer will help the Washington head coach battle the illness successfully.
“He’ll attack it,” Reid said. “He’s a linebacker and once a linebacker, always a linebacker, so he’s got that grit and toughness, and he’ll need that as he goes forward.
“He’s in the right frame of mind. He’s a positive guy and he’s staying positive with this. But at the same time, he knows he’s got to bear down on it and that’s what he’ll do.”
Rivera, who spent nine season playing for the Chicago Bears (1984-92), served as a linebackers coach on Reid’s staff while with the Philadelphia Eagles (1999-2003).
Before taking over in Washington, Rivera coached the Carolina Panthers for nine seasons (2011-19) and helped guide them to Super Bowl 50, where they lost to the Denver Broncos.
OBSERVATIONS
The NFL’s and Chiefs’ media rules during training camp without fans in attendance — fans cannot attend this year because of the pandemic with the exception of the Chiefs’ two season ticket holder events — prohibit the reporting of personnel groupings (first- or second- or third-team units), specific formations/alignments, trick plays, situational plays and statistics.
Still allowed, however, are general observations about head-turning and notable plays:
• Wide receiver Demarcus Robinson has turned in a strong training camp so far. On Saturday, he made the catch of the day with a one-handed grab down the right sideline. For an encore, Robinson was on the receiving end of two deep touchdown passes from Mahomes during team drills.
• Mahomes proved he is human after all. The Chiefs signal-caller threw interceptions on consecutive plays during team drills. The first one might not have been his fault, as the receiver appeared to slip at the line of scrimmage, resulting in an easy pick for cornerback Rashad Fenton. The next interception, though, came on a 50-50 ball after Mahomes rolled to his left and launched a pass, which wobbled, down the field to wide receiver Jody Fortson. Rookie cornerback L’Jarius Sneed, however, out-fought Fortson on the jump ball and secured the turnover.
• Speaking of Fortson, the 6-foot-6, 230-pound receiver made a stunning acrobatic one-handed catch over safety Tyrann Mathieu during one-on-one drills. The pass appeared too high, but Fenton used every bit of his frame to jump up and snatch the ball out of the air with just his left hand. The play drew cheers from a group of players observing the drills.
• Cornerback Bashaud Breeland also drew cheers from players when he secured an interception during full team drills. On the play, Breeland, who was covering a receiver on a crossing route, jumped in front of the intended target before extending both arms to snare the pass out of the air.
