KCSN Weekly: Chiefs Are Back, Perez Makes More History, and the Royals Race the Clock Before the Trade Deadline
A weekly look at everything happening across Kansas City sports.
The Chiefs are back in St. Joseph, the Royals are three days away from the trade deadline, and Salvador Perez is rewriting the franchise record books. Here is where things stand heading into the weekend.
Chiefs Check-in: Mahomes Is a Go, Allen Turns Heads, plus injury updates
Rookies, quarterbacks, and select veterans have been in St. Joseph for a week now, and the full squad has been engulfed in the Missouri Western tradition for the last three days. The team wrapped up its third full practice Friday and will have one more tomorrow before an off day Sunday. Pads come on for the first time tomorrow as well, which is when things start to get real.
The best news out of camp is the news that was already known but is worth repeating. Patrick Mahomes is fully cleared and practicing without restriction. For a team that watched its franchise quarterback go down against the Los Angeles Chargers last December, seeing him back on the field in St. Joe without limitation is the headline above all others.
The early standout from the first week of full-squad work is fifth-round rookie wide receiver Cyrus Allen. Head coach Andy Reid made a point of noting Sunday that Mahomes has already developed some trust in the former Cincinnati Bearcat, a meaningful endorsement this early in camp for a player who was largely under the radar as a Day 3 pick.
Nohl Williams has also gotten off to a strong start on the defensive side, flashing the coverage ability that made him one of the more underrated rookies in the league last season.
On the offensive line, the right tackle competition has provided one of the more interesting early subplots. Jaylon Moore got the start with the first team on day one, but undrafted free agent Kahlil Benson stepped in with the ones on day two. Reid has made clear the job is potentially up for grabs, but let’s not forget how early it is.
In the secondary, Chamarri Conner and Alohi Gilman have been splitting the safety reps with the first team, while the cornerback rotation has featured a mix of Williams, L’Jarius Sneed, and Mansoor Delane outside, with Chris Roland-Wallace getting most of the early reps at nickel.
The injury report, as always this time of year, has been one of the busier storylines of the opening week. Defensive end Ethan Downs and tight end John Michael Gyllenborg both suffered season-ending injuries, losses for the depth of both position groups. Defensive end Ashton Gillotte also left Friday’s practice with a hamstring strain, which will bear watching given how thin the edge rusher room already is. Omarr Norman-Lott remains on the PUP list as he continues his ACL recovery, Delane is in a non-contact jersey with his shoulder, and both Rice and Sneed are having their workloads managed. The Chiefs have dealt with a notable amount of attrition before pads have even gone on.
Royals Report: Perez Makes History Again, but the Deadline Looms
Salvador Perez keeps adding to his legacy. The future Hall of Fame catcher blasted his 318th career home run this week, passing George Brett for the most in franchise history. He is up to 15 on the season, showcasing notable pop at 36 years old. It was another memorable moment for one of the most beloved players in Kansas City history.
On the mound, the rotation was excellent across the board. Noah Cameron, Randy Dobnak, Seth Lugo, and Michael Wacha each went at least six innings and allowed no more than two runs in their starts. Cameron and Dobnak each turned in shutout performances over eight and seven innings, respectively. Unfortunately for Cameron, the bullpen squandered a 3-0 ninth-inning lead against the Twins on Thursday, turning a win into a loss and summing up the kind of season it has been.
The Royals went 3-3, splitting the Detroit series and going 1-2 against Minnesota, and now sit at 46-64 with three days until the MLB trade deadline. They are firmly outside the playoff picture, and the question facing general manager J.J. Picollo is whether he moves veterans for prospects or holds the roster together for next season.
Adding to the concern is the injury front. Vinnie Pasquantino returned to the injured list with right wrist soreness, and third baseman Maikel Garcia suffered a setback to his injured hand on a rehab assignment and is awaiting further evaluation. Two of their most important offensive contributors are now up in the air, along with Bobby Witt Jr.
The Royals have three more on the road against the Colorado Rockies before returning home to host the Twins next week.
Sporting Scoops: No Answer for LAFC
Sporting Kansas City dropped a 4-0 decision to LAFC on the road, with the match effectively over by halftime after David Martinez scored in the fourth minute of first-half stoppage time to make it 3-0.
Sporting managed just one shot on goal all evening and offered little resistance throughout. The loss drops them to 4-2-11, last place in the Western Conference.
Sporting returns home tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m. to host Houston Dynamo FC, a team with an 8-2-6 record that will provide another stiff test.
What to Watch This Week
Chiefs
Practice Saturday, off Sunday, then daily through next Saturday
Pads on for the first time this Saturday
Royals (46-64)
At Colorado Rockies (42-67) for three
Home vs. Minnesota Twins (55-55) for three
MLB Trade Deadline: Aug. 3
Sporting KC (4-2-11)
Home vs. Houston Dynamo FC (8-2-6): Tomorrow, 7:30 p.m. CT