Six observations from Day 3 of Chiefs OTAs: Mahomes, Worthy & top standouts
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Mahomes was five months removed from an ACL and LCL tear when he showed zip and accuracy.
- Worthy made two red-zone 7-on-7 touchdown catches; Royals had notable 7-on-7 catches.
- Fields struggled midwork but his off-balance flip led to Walker's one-handed catch.
After two closed OTA sessions Tuesday and Wednesday, the Kansas City Chiefs opened practice to the media on Thursday, providing an initial look at the 2026 version of the team.
I had my notepad out for the full hour-and-40-minute session. Here’s what I learned:
Patrick Mahomes looked like Patrick Mahomes
Considering he’s just five months removed from his ACL and LCL tear, Mahomes looked like himself, especially during 7-on-7 periods, where he showcased the familiar zip and accuracy we’ve grown accustomed to seeing over the course of his nine-year NFL career.
If Mahomes hadn’t been wearing a full brace on his left leg and coming off the field for 11-on-11 periods, you might not have known he’d been injured in the first place. He also moved well during individual work that required vertical and lateral movement.
The quarterback detailed the next steps in his recovery during a brief media session after the workout.
Quick injury notes and notable absences
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid confirmed that both Jaden Hicks and Xavier Worthy underwent offseason surgical procedures, which left them in non-contact jerseys for this look. Our Blair Kerkhoff had the full rundown of that news.
As a reminder, only one session a week is open to media and the workouts are voluntary. Still, veteran defensive tackle Chris Jones and tight end Travis Kelce were not at the session. Neither was cornerback Kristian Fulton.
Jones and Fulton were spotted arriving for OTAs on the Chiefs’ social media accounts this week.
The energy shift on offense was palpable
Kansas City made changes to its offensive coaching staff this offseason, bringing back offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy and adding running backs coach DeMarco Murray and wide receivers coach Chad O’Shea.
Bieniemy’s token emphasis on “finishing” was evident, with several of the Chiefs’ young skill players running to the goal line even after a drill had concluded. On a touchdown throw from Mahomes to Worthy, Bieniemy audibly celebrated the play execution.
If you have ever watched a Chiefs’ training camp practice, you know the drill. The session begins with individual work before installs and the eventual team periods.
Early in practice, receivers undergo individual work right in front of media members, allowing us to hear O’Shea’s instruction firsthand. His vocal, in-your-face style fits right in with Bieniemy, and how it positively affects positional play will be a point to watch.
The things that caught my eye
As I reveal standout parts of practice, it’s important to note that OTAs and generally any non-contact, non-padded practices tend to favor the passing offense, which is why receivers and tight ends will tend to make this section more so than other positions.
At receiver, Jalen Royals and Worthy both put together solid performances. Worthy made two dynamic catches in three plays for touchdowns during red-zone 7-on-7 work with Mahomes.
“He’s really doing a nice job,” Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said of Worthy. “It’s great for him to be able to detail things. He’s working like crazy at it. I think he’s more comfortable now. He had a couple things cleaned out there, so he’s feeling good about that, and I think he’s in a good spot. We just don’t want to take any steps back.”
With Rashee Rice unable to attend OTAs, Royals is seeing more time with Justin Fields during 11-on-11s and Mahomes during 7-on-7s. By my view, Thursday’s workout was a very early sign he may be putting a forgettable rookie season behind him.
During a 7-on-7 period with Mahomes, Royals torqued and fully extended his body to come back and make the catch, drawing a rise from the quarterback.
“It gives Jalen some great reps,” Reid said of the second-year receiver. “He looks strong out here and running well and that whole deal. It’s great for him. It’s great for him and the quarterbacks to see what he’s all about on repeated reps.”
Without Kelce, the tight ends had more drops Thursday than you’d like to see, but I thought Jared Wiley moved the best he has since November 2024, when he tore his ACL at practice. Granted, without pads, Wiley looked much closer to that form than he had all last season.
Reid said he could tell second-year offensive tackle Esa Pole worked hard this offseason, and he had some good reps next to right guard Trey Smith, who spoke about him after practice.
“Esa’s doing a phenomenal job growing his knowledge of the game,” Smith said of the 24-year-old Pole. “Coming to work every day, Esa brings the energy, man. He’s a fun, young guy to be around. All of our tackles are doing a great job right now and just looking forward to playing.”
Once again acknowledging that media has access to one practice a week, I thought Fields had a tough stretch midway through the workout, sailing several passes in a row beyond the reach of intended receivers. Fields made up for it with the play of the day, flipping the ball off-balance to running back Kenneth Walker, who made a one-handed catch in the flat to pull it in.
“(He’s) very smart, and a hard worker,” Reid said of Fields. “He gets it. He’s been there. You can tell he’s been there. Again, he’s trying to work on all the ball actions that we’re doing, play-action stuff that we’re doing that might be a little bit different, some of the drops, trying to fit him in with the receivers.
“He doesn’t know all these receivers yet, so he’s getting to know these guys so he can stay on time with them. But I like what I see.”
On defense, I logged constant chatter between defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and second-year cornerback Nohl Williams, who will compete for a starting role now with Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson in Los Angeles. Rookie cornerbacks Jadon Canady and Mansoor Delane registered pass breakups during team drills, and third-year cornerback Chris Roland-Wallace batted down a pass at the line early in the workout.
Some lesser-knowns who popped
Second-year tight end Tre Watson fully extended his body to bring in a pass from rookie Garrett Nussmeier during 7-on-7. Nussmeier later threw a touchdown on a pass deflected by undrafted free agent cornerback Bryce Phillips that undrafted free agent Omari Evans managed to still catch.
Second-year wide receiver Andrew Armstrong had two scores — one in 7-on-7 and one in 11-on-11.
Fourth-year safety Tanner McCalister broke up a Fields pass intended for running back Emmett Johnson, which Spagnuolo lauded.
Mahomes target practice
Here’s who Mahomes targeted during his 7-on-7 work:
Tight end Noah Gray (3),wide receiver Tyquan Thornton (2), tight end Jared Wiley (2), wide receiver Xavier Worthy (2), wide receiver Cyrus Allen, tight end Jake Briningstool, wide receiver Jimmy Holiday, wide receiver Jalen Royals.
