KC Chiefs hit practice field under heat advisory, and it affected at least one player

The conditions were hot and muggy on Saturday as Chiefs rookie linebacker Leo Chenal endured his first training camp practice at Missouri Western State University.

It didn’t end well for the Wisconsin native.

During 7-on-7 red zone drills midway through practice, Chenal appeared to be affected by the heat and had to leave the field. The linebacker received attention from a team trainer, who draped a wet towel over Chenal’s head, before riding off the field to the training facility in the passenger seat of a cart.

“The heat got to him a little bit today, so we got him out of there,” Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said after practice.

The Chiefs practiced for a little less than two hours under a heat advisory, and temperatures hovered in the high-80s with the heat index making it feel like in the mid- to high-90s, even in the morning hours.

For the average person, a heat advisory calls for plenty of fluid intake, staying out of the sun and seeking shelter in an air-conditioned room. Aside from fluid intake, however, Chenal and other NFL players participating in training camps don’t have the luxury of the latter two responses.

For rookie running back Isiah Pacheco, working out in hot and humid conditions in his hometown before reporting for training camp helped the acclimation process.

“Training in south (New) Jersey, it’s really hot out there right now, in the 100s,” Pacheco said. “So taking advantage of the heat practicing back at home to prepare for the camp is something I took advantage of.”

Nevertheless, the conditions in St. Joe on Saturday offered warning of sorts, and a preview of what’s to come — because August and the rest of training camp will only bring more hot weather.

Knowing what’s in store, Reid had a simple message for his players.

“We just keep an eye on them, and they have to stay hydrated,” he said. “We’ll just keep slowing it down for them.”

PARTICIPATION REPORT

The Chiefs only have their quarterbacks, rookies and select other players on the practice field this weekend. The rest of the veterans report for camp Monday.

Thirty players participated in Saturday’s practice, with a breakdown as follows: four quarterbacks, three running backs, three wide receivers, three tight ends, four offensive linemen, two defensive linemen, three linebackers and eight defensive backs.

Tackle Lucas Niang (knee), cornerback Rashad Fenton (shoulder), offensive lineman Prince Tega Wanogho (leg) and rookie Kehinde Oginni Hassan (blood test) did not practice.

Niang, Fenton and Tega Wanogho worked off to the side near the rehabilitation tent, while Hassan stood near the field and observed.

OBSERVATIONS

With no fans present yet (fans are welcome starting midweek), the Chiefs’ media rules mirror what was in place during OTAs: no reporting on personnel groupings (first- or second- or third-team units), specific formations/alignments, trick plays or situational plays.

Allowed, however, are general observations on head-turning and notable plays, such as:

• Tight end Jody Fortson made up for a dropped pass during 7-on-7 drills by scoring three touchdowns in red zone drills, including consecutive scoring catches from quarterback Patrick Mahomes. On the second touchdown, Fortson lost his helmet in a collision at the goal line, but he fought through the contact to make the grab in the end zone.

• Rookie cornerback Trent McDuffie had a nice pass breakup in the end zone against wide receiver Aaron Parker. McDuffie reached up and knocked the ball loose after Parker got his hands on the football.

• Second-year wide receiver Cornell Powell enjoyed a good morning workout. During 7-on-7 drills, Powell secured a pass from backup cornerback Chad Henne near the left sideline. On the next play, Henne threw a perfect back-shoulder pass to Powell on the right sideline against rookie cornerback Jaylen Watson, who had no chance to defend.