Friday at Chiefs Training Camp: R Mason Thomas really impressing teammates, Felix Anudike-Uzomah feeling one hundred percent healthy

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) - Former first round draft pick from Kansas State, Felix Anudike-Uzomah, suffered a severe hamstring strain in the preseason last year, forcing the defensive end to sit out the entire season. Now Felix is healthy this year, and he has a lot to prove heading into his 3rd season with the Chiefs, and he says that's been motivating.

"It was tough, honestly. But at the end of the day, work will get you anywhere you want, so I had that mindset going throughout the offseason," said Anudike-Uzomah. "Seeing all my teammates play, it was kind of hard. But me just focusing on getting better was just my motivation. It's just a blessing to be in this type of job, so it was like one of those things where either I can get better or get worse. So I try to choose to be the best I can."

KC's 2nd round draft pick in 2026, defensive end R Mason Thomas, has already made a huge impression on this team in this training camp, so much so that starting left tackle Josh Simmons says you almost have to break the rules to even block Thomas.

"Extremely explosive. You almost have to be offsides to kind of stay in front of him. So I think he'll definitely keep me in any tackle on their toes to make sure you're on the snap count for sure," said Simmons.

Thomas' response when he heard Simmons say that? Disbelief and a sense of pride.

"(Josh Simmons) said that? Well now he's cheating! No I'm joking. That brings confidence because he's a great tackle to go against to get better with and he gives me the hardest work out of the o-line," said Thomas. "So that that brings confidence. I'm kind of happy that he said that!"

Chiefs 7th-round draft pick out of LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier was a 2-year starter for the Tigers. Now with a different role further down the depth chart in his rookie season in the NFL, Nussmeier looks to soak up as much knowledge as he can from the coach known as the quarterback whisperer, coach Andy Reid.

I'm just trying to learn and grow in many different areas of my game. Being around a legendary coach who's had a lot of experience with some really great quarterbacks, anything that he says I try to listen and take notes," said Nussmeier. "Even if he's not talking to me, if he's talking to Pat (Mahomes), if he's talking to Justin (Fields), I'm just trying to soak up as much knowledge as I can around him."

The Chiefs will be back out at practice on Saturday morning on August 8th and then have an off day on Sunday the 9th. One week from Saturday, the Chiefs will have their first preseason game hosting the Los Angeles Rams at Arrowhead Stadium on August 15th.