This Chiefs rookie got in extra training with Patrick Mahomes. Here’s what he learned
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes used a four-word caption with his Instagram reel: “Skyy is the limit.”
This was late last month, and after rookie receiver Skyy Moore brought in a fingertip catch during a workout in Texas, Mahomes wanted to be sure to spotlight the Chiefs’ second-round draft pick to his 5 million social media followers.
“It was a sweet catch,” Mahomes said, “so I had to make sure that I posted that.”
The get-together — away from a team setting — was an attempt to make up for lost time.
Moore battled a hamstring issue that limited him during most of Chiefs rookie minicamp and the ensuing organized team activities. That also meant less opportunity to get in sync with Mahomes.
The trip to Texas, then, turned out to be beneficial.
“I think it’ll just help jump-start him to kind of help contribute as fast as possible,” Mahomes said. “Because at the end of the day, he’s a rookie coming in having to learn a ton, but he has a lot of talent, and we want to make sure whenever the season comes around, he’s ready to go.”
Moore understood he had some catching up to do.
He said that in every individual session with Mahomes, he learned something. And specifically, Mahomes communicated often about how he wanted specific routes to be run — vital information considering how the Chiefs offense operates.
“It’s all about what he wants and the chemistry between the wide receiver and quarterback,” Moore said. “So I’m just trying to feel what he needs from me.”
When Moore first checked in during Chiefs training camp and spoke to reporters Friday, he reiterated that he was fully healthy. He reiterated twice that he was 100%, saying he believed the nagging hamstring issue resulted from overuse while transitioning from his college season to training for the scouting combine and rookie minicamp.
“That’s all behind me right now,” Moore said. “I’m ready.”
Chiefs coach Andy Reid seemed pleased with what he saw from Moore in Saturday’s first training camp practice that only included rookies and quarterbacks.
“He looked smooth out here today, strong,” Reid said. “His leg looked like it held up pretty good.”
Reid said Moore — at 5-foot-10 and 195 pounds out of Western Michigan — also stands out because of his body type. This is even more evident when the Chiefs practice in shorts like they did Saturday.
“You know, he’s got those big legs — different than a lot of receivers, kind of like running-back legs,” Reid said. “But he was smooth, good hands, big hands too. Had like size 10 hands, catches it easy.”
It was a solid first day for Moore despite some complications off the field. Moore said Friday that he’d made it to Missouri Western’s campus without his suitcase after leaving it in a Tampa Bay hotel room ahead of an early flight; he hoped that overnight shipping would save him from having to wear exclusively team-issued gear for the next few days.
As far as his place with the team, though, Moore’s actions over the past month were meant to get him ready for the practices to come.
And also the season ahead.
“I’m just excited to get in here,” Moore said, “and carve out my role for the team.”
