Kansas City Chiefs HC Andy Reid spoke to the media on Thursday for the first time since OTAs began. Reid provided some updates on injured players and also those who are simply absent from voluntary practices.
There were no significant injuries to report at this point of the offseason which is very good news, but there were a few absences related to minor injury and illness.
“We’ve got a few injuries or sicknesses,” Reid said. “A few muscle pull things, nothing that is big. It is the offseason, so I’ll just leave it at that.”
Reid would later elaborate that veteran receiver Mecole Hardman was one of the players who was dealing with a minor injury.
“Mecole (Hardman) he’s one of the ones,” Reid said. “He tweaked a hamstring early there, yesterday.”
There were some other absences not related to injuries. Orlando Brown Jr., the team’s franchise tag player, was absent as he continues to search for an agent. Once he lands an agent, Reid expects that things will progress on contract extension talks. The team has until July 15 to get a long-term deal done.
“He’s still working to get an agent,” Reid said of Brown. “He’s interviewing these different people. So once he gets that taken care of, we’ll be able to roll. I know he’s working out down in Florida. So he is getting his work in.”
Frank Clark and Chris Jones were also among the players absent from practice on Thursday.
One injured player was spotted back at practice — with TE Jody Fortson returning to action. He is coming off of a season-ending Achilles injury in 2021. There wasn’t a guarantee that Fortson would be back in action for Phase 3, but it’s a good sign that he is back out there working.
