In the push and pull over whether NFL fields will be covered with high-quality grass, a global solution is possible, albeit unlikely, through collective bargaining. For now, the decisions will be made one team at a time — especially as new stadiums are built.
The Bills decided to convert from turf to grass in their new stadium. The Chiefs, who are in the process of building a new domed stadium in Kansas, prefer to continue to play on grass, but no decision has been made.
The Browns are also building a covered stadium, in suburban Brook Park. They currently play on grass. Per the team, the Browns will play on artificial turf in the new stadium.
That said, the new stadium will have the ability to accommodate grass, which happens most often when a venue hosts soccer matches. Which means that, in theory, the artificial turf for NFL games could eventually be swapped out for grass.
For now, the plan is artificial turf. Which will tip the current 16-16 balance of teams playing homes games on real grass and fake grass toward turf, 17-15.
Unless, of course, owners of teams that play on turf decide to switch to grass. Starting with the incoming owners of the Seahawks, possibly.
Chiefs Clips
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid continues to see positive signs from Patrick Mahomes in the quarterback’s recovery from a torn ACL.
Reid said on Saturday that Mahomes has been doing a great job since training camp started.
“He’s really doing everything that he normally does and doing it well. So, we’re happy with that,” Reid told ESPN’s Dan Graziano. “We know he’s still progressing through it. But he sure looks sharp out here.”
Reid has continued to say that he’s letting Kansas City’s doctors and medical staff guide him when it comes to Mahomes’ practice participation, if he’ll play in a preseason game, and the quarterback’s availability for Week 1.
“As long as he’s safe, that’s what we’re looking at. So, right now, for what we’re doing, he’s safe to roll,” Reid said.
Reid has not said one way or another whether or not Mahomes will play in a preseason game. The Chiefs will host the Rams on Saturday, Aug. 15, play the Buccaneers on the road on Saturday, Aug. 22, and finish the preseason by hosting the Seahawks on Friday, Aug. 28.
Chiefs rookie wide receiver Cyrus Allen appears to have avoided a serious injury on Saturday.
Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that Allen has been diagnosed with a shin bruise. Sam McDowell of the Kansas City Star reports that the team considers him day-to-day.
Allen had to be carted off the field after getting hurt, so the minor nature of the injury is good news for the rookie. Allen has made a strong early impression in training camp while seeing time with the first team and it sounds like he’ll be able to get back to that role in the near future.
The Chiefs also saw wide receiver Xavier Worthy leave Saturday’s practice with a shoulder injury. There’s been no further update on his condition.
Promising Chiefs rookie receiver Cyrus Allen exited Saturday’s practice on a cart. The injury happened while he was filling the role of gunner on the punt team.
That has prompted some Chiefs fans to question why in the hell Cyrus Allen was serving as a gunner on the punt team.
Chiefs special-teams coordinator Dave Toub addressed the issue in a post-practice press conference with reporters.
“I hate to see somebody get hurt, especially on special teams,” Toub said, via Nate Taylor of ESPN. “He’s doing well on offense and for me, too. He was a gunner and a returner. Everyone is on special teams until they aren’t. Everyone starts as a four-phase guy, especially rookies.”
Toub added that first-round cornerback Mansoor Delane would also be practicing on special teams, but for his shoulder injury. Toub also said that, once upon a time, tight end Travis Kelce practiced on special teams.
It’s another example of the delicate balance of getting a football team ready for the season while keeping the individual players as healthy as possible. If too many players are kept in bubble wrap during August, it becomes difficult to compete in September.
The Chiefs lost a pair of wide receivers to injuries at Saturday’s training camp practice.
Rookie Cyrus Allen was carted off with a lower left leg injury that the team said is still being evaluated and third-year wideout Xavier Worthy had to leave the session with a shoulder injury. The extent of that injury is also under evaluation.
Worthy missed time early last season after dislocating his shoulder and finished the year with 42 catches for 532 yards and a touchdown.
Wide receiver was already seen as a spot where the Chiefs might look to bolster the ranks ahead of the regular season. If either of Saturday’s injuries lead to long-term absences, it will increase the urgency to make a move in Kansas City.
Rookie wide receiver Cyrus Allen has earned positive reviews at Chiefs camp with his play, but he was the center of attention for different reasons on Saturday.
Allen was injured in a collision with a teammate during a special teams drill and checked out for an apparent left leg injury. Reporters at the practice noted that Allen was not able to put his full weight on the leg before taking a cart to the back for further evaluation.
The Chiefs drafted Allen in the fifth round and has seen time with Patrick Mahomes and the first team offense.
“He’s done a nice job,” head coach Andy Reid said on Friday, via Nate Taylor of ESPN.com. “The quarterback trusts him.”
The hope in Chiefs camp is that Saturday’s injury is just a momentary interruption for the rookie.
Not long ago, the closest Cyrus Allen got to Patrick Mahomes was playing with him in Madden. Now Allen is catching passes from Mahomes at Chiefs training camp.
Allen, a fifth-round rookie wide receiver, said it’s been a thrill to get the opportunity to share a practice field with Mahomes and not just see him on the screen.
“It’s still a surreal moment for me because I used to play the game with Pat a lot,” Allen said. “On the game, that was my favorite team.”
Allen said his top priority is making sure that he’s timing his routes so that he’s exactly where Mahomes wants him to be at exactly the right time.
“Everything is pretty much timing,” Allen said. “This ain’t college no more. This is big boy ball. So everything is pretty much timing and I’m on his time, and everything is very precise in this league.”
Allen said he wants to learn every position on the offense so that Mahomes and the coaches will feel comfortable putting him anywhere that help is needed.
“Just learning every spot. I’m a guy that tries to learn the whole playbook, even the protections and everything,” Allen said. “That’s how I think so I can be available if my number is called.”
And Allen said that no matter how many snaps he gets on offense, he hopes to be doing everything he can on special teams, including returning punts and kickoffs and covering on punts and kickoffs.
“I want to play special teams, regardless. All four phases,” Allen said. “Whatever I need to do to help the team. Playing long snapper? Whatever I need to do to help the team I’m prepared to do.”
That’s the kind of attitude that earns playing time for rookies.
While Patrick Mahomes suffered a torn ACL in December, all indications have been that the quarterback is on track to start Week 1 when the Chiefs play the Broncos.
Mahomes did not start training camp on the active/physically unable to perform list and started working with the team’s rookies last week.
With veterans now on the field as well, head coach Andy Reid told reporters on Wednesday that Mahomes has continued to look good in practice.
“Yeah, he looked pretty good today, I thought. Strong,” Reid said in his press conference, via transcript from the team. “You see the strength in his legs, which is important with a leg injury. You kind of look at that first. See how his feet are moving, feet are moving well. So, I thought it was positive. I mean, I thought he looked well.”
Reid, of course, is watching Mahomes intently throughout camp as the quarterback returns from a major injury.
“I’m obviously giving a close eye on him. I’m not the doctor, but I’m keeping a close eye on the small things, technique-wise,” Reid said. “But he’s prepared for those things and [assistant athletic trainer] Julie [Frymyer] has done a great job with him, with his rehab of really giving him opportunities to push off, whether it’s lateral or straight ahead to make sure he can escape as needed.
“He’s got good strength. You make good strength through the practice he’s been in, where he can still bend and throw and he trusts the leg to drive on it. So, I think those are all important things. I stand right behind him. So, we talk.”
The Chiefs did bring in Justin Fields to be a high-level backup for the club this season. But it seems like Mahomes is still on the path to starting Week 1.
A pair of court appearances involving the son of Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy have been delayed pending a mental health evaluation.
Elijah Bieniemy was arrested on Monday and charged with malicious wounding, use of a firearm in commission of a felony and discharge of a firearm inside a dwelling after his mother was shot in the family’s home in Virginia on Sunday. Mia Bieniemy was taken to the hospital with multiple gunshot wounds and was released from ICU this week.
Elijah Bieniemy remains in the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center. The court appearances were scheduled for Thursday and August 31, but, per the Associated Press, will be continued until the mental health evaluation takes place.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said that there is no timetable for Eric Bieniemy to return to the team.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid shared a positive update on the condition of offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy’s wife Mia on Wednesday.
Mia Bieniemy was shot multiple times at the family’s home in Virginia on Sunday and was admitted to the intensive care unit at a local hospital as a result of her injuries. The couple’s son was arrested and charged with multiple crimes as a result of the shooting.
“She’s doing great,” Reid said, via Nate Taylor of ESPN.com. “She’s doing better and great from where she was. [She’s] out of the ICU unit and making progress, so we’re happy about that.”
Eric Bieniemy has been away from the team since the incident and Reid said it’s not known when he might return.
“Eric’s a big part of this,” Reid said. “We love having him here, but it’s important that he takes care of business and everybody knows that. Eric will be back soon enough to jump in there and do his thing, but he’s got to take care of that first.”
Passing game coordinator Joe Bleymaier is handling the offensive coordinator duties in Bieniemy’s absence.
