The Kansas City Chiefs held their Week 9 team press conference today, and at the presser Head Coach Andy Reid, Quarterback Patrick Mahomes, Center Creed Humphrey, and Linebacker Joshua Uche all spoke. Providing their respective insights on different areas of the team and their upcoming opponent.
Reid primarily focused on player personnel and how the team has been preparing in route to hosting the Bucs this week. While Mahomes touched on the integration of Uche and Hopkins in Monday’s game. Humphrey spoke on the Chiefs’ run game and their plan to lean on this area of their offense as their passing game continues to figure things out and round out the conference. Uche shared his thoughts about joining the Kansas City Chiefs, and how he sees himself fitting into a championship-level organization.
Kansas City Chiefs Injury News and Player Updates
Andy Reid opened the press conference with updates on injuries for this week. Reid mentioned that Offensive Tackle Ethan Driskell is ill and will not be practicing today. Safety Nazeeh Johnson is making strides in his concussion recovery and can participate in walkthroughs but remains sidelined for practice. Wide Receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster remains out due to his hamstring injury, and Defensive Tackle Mike Dana will practice despite still dealing with his pec strain.
Reid then moved on to Joshua Uche and the possibility of him playing this week on Monday. “We’ll work him in with the defensive line rotation, and as long as he can handle everything, he’ll start working there,” Reid said. Reid believes Uche’s aggressive pass-rushing style will be able to bolster the Kansas City Chiefs defense. Especially its ability to get after opposing quarterbacks and he is optimistic Uche will have the chance to showcase his talents on Monday.
Reid also provided updates on both Running Back Isiah Pacheco and Defensive End Charles Omenihi, both players who are working through their post-surgery rehabilitation. While Pacheco is “doing fantastic” according to Reid, the final decision lies with the medical team. Omenihu is reportedly improving as well, though Reid made it clear that only the doctors overseeing both player’s treatments can make the final call on their return to active play.
Mahomes on Integrating Uche and Overcoming Injuries
Patrick Mahomes opened his portion of the presser by sharing his thoughts on Joshua Uche. Mahomes praised Uche’s pass-rushing abilities saying, “He does a great job playing hard the entire time, and he really gets after it every snap.” Mahomes understands how strong the Kansas City Chiefs defense already is. A move like this only helps sure up, that fact, and makes his job that much easier, especially since the offense has had not had the best start to the season.
Mahomes moved on to talk about the growing chemistry between himself and Wide Receiver DeAndre Hopkins. Hopkins only joined last week, and in his first game with the team made an immediate impact and is only expected to become more involved moving forward. “Hitting him in that medium-to-long range will open up the field for everyone,” Mahomes said. He believes Hopkins’ presence will alleviate pressure on other receivers, which will then create more downfield opportunities for the Kansas City Chiefs offense.
By adding another deep-threat option alongside Travis Kelce, the Kansas City Chiefs offense now has the chance to improve their air attack moving forward. Then in response to recent news about Tight End Jody Fortson’s season-ending ACL injury. Mahomes reflected on Fortson’s dedication to the team. “It’s extremely tough because he’s worked so hard to get back from previous injuries,” Mahomes said, expressing his sadness for his long-time teammate but Mahomes also added, “I know the person and I know he’ll continue to fight to back give himself an opportunity to get back to the football field.”
Chiefs Offensive Line Stability and Run Game Focus
Andy Reid also touched on the left tackle position moving forward and whether Wanya Morris would keep the starting position or if they would be going back to rookie Kinglsey Suamatia. “Both of them can be starters,” Reid said, mentioning the flexibility of having two young, skilled players. While Morris will remain the current starter, Reid views Suamatia as an equally viable option, which could prove beneficial in terms of depth and future development.
When it was Creed Humphrey’s time to speak at the podium he spoke on the Kansas City Chiefs’ success in the run game this season, despite losing their No. 1 running back earlier in the season. “We enjoy it, whenever our name gets called to run the ball it’s a lot of fun. We take a lot of pride in it, proud of the guys so far on we’ve able to run the ball and just continuing to improve on offense is the goal right now.”
Humphrey also addressed the upcoming challenge of facing Tampa Bay Buccaneers Defensive Lineman Vita Vea. Humphrey stated that Vea is one of the league’s top nose tackles. “He’s a dominant nose guard and has been his whole career,” Humphrey said, acknowledging the skill and power Vea brings. Humphrey added, “He presents a lot of challenges, and he’s a fun guy to play against.”
Uche’s Enthusiasm For Chiefs Defense
Last up at the podium was the Kansas City Chiefs’ newest addition, Joshua Uche. Uche started his presser by sharing how he found out about the trade to the Chiefs, “Sunday came around and they told me I was a healthy scratch and that was a kind of telltale sign something was up. The following day I got a call from [Elliot Wolfe] that I got traded to Kansas City.” Uche added, “Playing with Patrick Mahomes, Chris Jones, Andy Reid, Travis Kelce, I’m playing with some of the greatest guys in the league right now. I’m just trying to get in where I fit in and keep this thing rolling.”
Uche also shared his first impressions of Kansas City Chiefs Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, whose reputation preceded him. “He’s one of the legends in the league with all the different schemes he runs,” Uche said, highlighting Spagnuolo’s expertise in creating diverse defensive schemes. Uche also spoke on the challenge of adjusting to the Chiefs’ defensive playbook, but he remained eager to apply his new-found knowledge as soon as he could and fit into a defense known for its aggressive and flexible approach to the pass rush.
Uche closed out the conference speaking on playing alongside a play of the caliber of Chris Jones. “Chris Jones is a problem, that’s one thing I think we can all unanimously agree on,” Uche said. As he finds his footing within the team, Uche aims to contribute to Kansas City’s defensive depth however he can and with another piece added to their pass rush, a role he believes will allow him to thrive.
Final Thoughts
With the Tampa Bay Buccaneers matchup approaching, the Kansas City Chiefs are focused on integrating new players and adjusting to ongoing injuries. Coach Reid’s updates offer cautious optimism, as players like Uche and Hopkins bring new dimensions to both sides of the ball. Mahomes and Humphrey’s comments reflect a shared stability within the Kansas City Chiefs to work through personnel challenges throughout the season.
As the Kansas City Chiefs prepare for another challenging opponent, the team’s ability to adapt and maintain focus on execution will be essential. With strong leadership and depth across the roster, the Kansas City Chiefs are well-positioned and remain on track as they prepare to keep their win streak going against the Buccaneers this week.
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