KC Chiefs Training Camp Report: Injuries, Red Zone, Pass Rush

The KC Chiefs wrapped up day seven (Thursday, July 31st) of training camp in St. Joe and the biggest news of the day was the injuries, particularly to the secondary. As we reported yesterday, Eric Berry left practice early because of an ankle, and corner back Marcus Cooper left because of a hamstring.

The extent of each players injury hasn’t been fully reported, but it seems that either one is very serious. Both players were shut down early by the coaching staff as precaution and there is no timetable set on when they will return to practice.

The rest of the injury report looked like this, (via Terez Paylor of the Kansas City Star)

A.J. Jenkins – (left practice early) Hamstring
Mike Catapano – Illness
Junior Hemingway – Hamstring
David Van Dyke – Hamstring
Joe McKnight – Knee
Demarcus Van Dyke – Hamstring

The Chiefs focused on a lot of red zone work today, having the ones vs. ones, two’s vs. two’s etc..

KC finished in the top 5 in red zone scoring percentage (59.68%) in 2013, which was a significant increase from there 2012, dead last percentage of 27.03%. Credit the increase to Andy Reid‘s emphasis on red zone work during practice, and, his creative plays designed to get the ball in his play makers hands in the short field.

According to multiple reports, including Adam Teicher of ESPN.com, the two sides (offense and defense) traded plays back and forth.

"One of the defensive highlights happened when Cooper, before his injury, broke up a pass intended for Dwayne Bowe in the end zone. The offense later retaliated with touchdown passes on consecutive plays, the first from Aaron Murray to Richard Gordon and the other from Alex Smith to Kyle Williams."

One of the best plays that was made all day was during this period. Alex Smith rolled out to his right and put a touch pass on the money to Dwayne Bowe, who made the catch and got both feet in bounds at the back of the endzone.

7/31 #ChiefsCamp Play of the Day: Alex Smith to Bowe for the TD. http://t.co/r7qIZd56la
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) July 31, 2014

Smith looks comfortable in year two of Coach Reid’s system which was expected but from the sounds of it, the two (Reid & Smith) are like peas and carrots. I look for Smith to do big things in 2014.