Five storylines to monitor heading into Chiefs’ training camp

The Chiefs have 90 players on their roster for training camp, which starts Tuesday when rookies and quarterbacks report to Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph.

Camp, however, really gets going with the first full-squad workout Saturday, and the roster will shrink to 53 before the season opener Sept. 11 against the San Diego Chargers at Arrowhead Stadium.

Here are the top five storylines to monitor heading into camp.

5. How Tyreek Hill fares in pads

The Chiefs took a ton of criticism for selecting Hill, the fifth-round rookie from West Alabama, because of his well-chronicled off-field issues. But during organized team activities, he showcased both blazing speed and surprising ball skills. Many players have starred during OTAs only to flame out in training camp, but if Hill maintains the same dynamism over the next month, the Chiefs will have a very intriguing talent on their hands.

4. When will Eric Berry report?

The Chiefs surprised many by failing to reach a long-term contract agreement with Pro Bowl safety and inspirational leader Eric Berry this summer. Both sides previously indicated a desire to reach a deal, but negotiations hit a snag early on and very little was accomplished. Berry will still earn a hefty $10.8 million this season after he signs his franchise tender, making him the league’s highest-paid safety, but that number falls several millions short of the guaranteed money he could have earned with a fair — emphasis on fair — long-term deal for a player with his track record. Berry is a team leader with great football character, but it will be interesting to see when he reports to camp; he could conceivably show his displeasure by skipping the entire preseason — which would not be ideal for a young secondary in need of his leadership — and returning just in time to collect his entire 2016 salary.

3. How will Jamaal Charles factor in?

Charles was as dynamic as ever before his season-ending ACL tear last October, but the Chiefs still went on to rattle off 11 straight wins without him. Part of the reason for that, however, was because the offense was forced to mature without him. Chiefs coach Andy Reid called more inside running plays, which the offensive line proved to be more adept at blocking, and the Chiefs boasted one of the league’s best ground games after Charles’ injury. Going forward, one of Reid’s biggest challenges will be figuring out how to best use the talents of Charles, Spencer Ware and Charcandrick West in an offense that still features two top-notch receiving targets in receiver Jeremy Maclin and tight end Travis Kelce. Will there be enough touches to go around?

2. When will Justin Houston be ready to play?

This is easily the biggest injury question looming over the Chiefs’ upcoming camp. Houston is an elite player, a disruptive edge rusher who plays the run and pass equally well. Their defense is not the same without him on the field. Chiefs general manager John Dorsey expressed optimism before the draft that Houston — a very hard worker — will play this season after undergoing ACL surgery in February. But the unusual six-to-12 month timeline the team gave after announcing the surgery means he could conceivably return during camp or miss the whole season, depending on how the ligament has been healing. All has been quiet on that front, but Chiefs coach Andy Reid will likely address Houston’s status when rookies and quarterbacks report Tuesday.

1. Pass rush questions

Not on the inside, where the Chiefs boast one of the league’s better interior trios in Jaye Howard, Dontari Poe and Allen Bailey. But on the outside, where Houston and Tamba Hali are among the league’s best ... when healthy. Even if Houston returns to the field quickly, Hali’s advanced age — he turns 33 in November and has been playing through knee issues for the past few seasons — means someone else will need to rotate in to keep him fresh. The odds-on favorite for that role is 2014 first-round pick Dee Ford, who showed some flashes a year ago but must be more consistent as a pass rusher. But if he doesn’t take a step forward, and Houston misses a chunk of the season, even a slightly-diminished pass rush could lead to a very young cornerback group getting exposed in what has increasingly become a passing league.

This story was originally published July 24, 2016 at 12:20 AM with the headline "Five storylines to monitor heading into Chiefs’ training camp."