The Kansas City Chiefs entered their 2025 training camp with high expectations, an energized coaching staff, and an eye toward returning to dominant form. St. Joseph, Missouri, buzzed with optimism as fans watched Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and a roster brimming with new and returning stars take the field. But in just a few short days, that optimism has grown tempered by concern: a cascade of injuries has begun reshaping camp narratives and, most importantly, may cut short one of the most anticipated position battles before it truly starts.
The Current Injury List: A Growing Challenge
The Chiefs are no strangers to adversity, but the early days of camp in Missouri Western State University have seen a concerning number of players sidelined. Wide receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, a crucial offseason addition, became the center of attention after suffering a leg injury severe enough to require a cart for his exit. Xavier Worthy, a rookie with huge promise, also exited practice early, nursing an apparent lower-body ailment before managing to return later in the session. The sight of Brown off the field quickly sent shockwaves through both the coaching staff and fans—his health is pivotal for a receiving corps that needs veteran leadership and consistent production.
Kansas City’s camp also saw absences or limited participation from several other key figures, including tight end Jake Briningstool (hamstring), cornerback Kristian Fulton (knee), and cornerback Darius Rush (hamstring). Even more concerning, Briningstool is now questionable for Week 1, while Fulton has landed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, raising questions about the Chiefs’ secondary depth.
Hamstring, knee, and soft-tissue injuries are often a byproduct of strenuous camp conditions—especially under the Kansas sun, where practices have regularly topped 95°F. Add to this the attrition of contact drills, and it’s no surprise that players like offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor and rookie tight end Tre Watson began camp on the PUP list, only recently returning to limited participation.
Kansas City’s Roster Battles: Tight End Spot Under the Microscope
One of the most intriguing competitions before camp began was for the third tight end spot behind stalwarts Travis Kelce and Noah Gray. The two frontrunners, rookie Jake Briningstool out of Tennessee and Jared Wiley, each brought unique skills to the table. Briningstool, a dynamic pass-catcher, boasts a tantalizing blend of size and route-running, while Wiley’s dependable hands and blocking acumen had made him a favorite among coaches.
However, Briningstool’s hamstring injury on the heels of strong OTAs has left the door wide open for Wiley to seize the job with little competition. Wiley has been a steady, healthy presence throughout practices, and every rep with the first and second units only solidifies his standing. If Briningstool can’t return swiftly—and at 100%—the battle may be over before it truly begins, with Wiley winning by default rather than decisively outplaying his counterpart.
Wider Roster Implications: Impact on Offense and Depth
The injury bug hasn’t limited itself to tight ends. The Chiefs’ offense, which already struggled in 2024 (ranking near the bottom of the NFL in big plays and downfield passing), invested heavily in upgrades. The signings of Jaylon Moore at left tackle and Marquise Brown as a versatile deep threat were meant to jumpstart a stale attack. Brown’s new setback—after he missed most of last season—puts ever more pressure on Rashee Rice, rookie Xavier Worthy, and the recently re-signed JuJu Smith-Schuster—all of whom have had injury scares or extensive recovery stints of their own.
With a diminished receiving corps, Patrick Mahomes again faces the challenge of shouldering a league-high percentage of total offense. If the star quarterback’s playmakers can’t stay on the field, opposing defenses will find it easier to focus on Kelce and the run game, limiting Kansas City’s big-play potential even further.
On the offensive line, the spotlight is on rookie first-round pick Josh Simmons, who is still in the recovery phase from a significant knee injury suffered in college. Simmons, viewed as a linchpin for long-term offensive line stability, will be carefully monitored as he ramps up full participation. Depth at these crucial positions will be tested if injuries persist, particularly with Simmons’ window for contributing early in his rookie season now in question.
Special Teams and Defensive Implications
While the offense’s struggles take headlines, injuries have also threatened Kansas City’s typically reliable special teams. The punter battle between Matt Araiza and Eddie Czaplicki was supposed to be a tightly contested affair, but Araiza’s own minor ailments have limited his ability to showcase his talents. This opens a path for Czaplicki, a rookie from Syracuse, to potentially claim the job without facing peak competition.
Defensively, the Chiefs are counting on consistency from a unit that returned the core of its Super Bowl-winning group but still needed improvement at cornerback and linebacker. With Kristian Fulton starting camp on the PUP list and depth options like Darius Rush also sidelined, Kansas City risks thin coverage during critical preseason reps—valuable time for evaluation and schematics.
Kansas City’s camp was also set to witness a fascinating battle at linebacker, with rookies like Jeffrey Bassa and undrafted standout Brandon George making a push for the final spot. While Bassa missed practice with a minor knock, George has emerged as a strong special teams candidate, impressing coaches and potentially altering depth chart expectations. Injuries to core defenders could fast-track young players into significant roles, long before the staff might be comfortable relying on inexperienced talent.
The Ripple Effect Across the NFL
The Chiefs are not unique in facing a rash of injuries; camps across the league—Arizona, Seattle, and Chicago among them—have all reported a steady stream of ailments as players acclimatize to contact at full speed. But Kansas City’s roster is built around a core of stars, complemented by a network of role players who now must step up under the weight of extended absences.
For a team expected to chase another Super Bowl, the stakes are high. Fewer position battles mean fewer chances for dark horses to emerge—a potential long-term problem if the Chiefs need depth late in the season or in the playoffs. GMs and coaches across the league will watch closely to see if the Chiefs’ strategy of erring on the side of player safety in camp, keeping veterans like Kelce on a pitch count, prevents longer-term issues or ultimately leaves young players underprepared.
Practical Steps and Forward Plans
Head coach Andy Reid has always balanced intensity with caution during camp, preferring to have players healthy for the long campaign ahead. This year, with a compressed schedule due to an early Week 1 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers, the margin for error is thin. Several injured players are projected to return by the second week of preseason, and the Chiefs medical staff is under pressure to minimize soft-tissue recurrences—historically among the most nagging issues late in the year.
Next man up is never just a slogan in Kansas City; it’s a necessity and a badge of pride. Depth players like WR Nikko Remigio, TE Jared Wiley, and CB Jaylen Watson have a golden opportunity to not only earn roster spots, but carve out meaningful roles for September and beyond. The team’s internally competitive culture, fostered by Mahomes, Kelce, and the defensive stalwarts, is expected to keep the bar high regardless of who takes the field.
Conclusion: Opportunity Amid Challenge
The mounting injuries in Kansas City’s training camp have changed the tone—but not the ultimate goal. While fans in cities across the Midwest worry about the toll of early injuries, veteran leaders and emerging youngsters alike recognize that every setback is also an open door. One roster battle, particularly at tight end, may be cut short by injury, but a new wave of hungry, unproven players will look to stake their claim and carry the Chiefs through another grueling season.
Kansas City’s identity is built on resilience and the willingness to adapt. As the dog days of summer give way to the high-intensity rhythm of preseason games, the Chiefs hope their injured stars recover quickly—so that every position battle is settled by performance, not availability. For now, all of Missouri, from St. Joseph to the heart of Kansas City, is holding its collective breath, hoping health returns and another championship run can truly begin.
