Before training camp officially begins on July 23, the Chiefs already might be behind the eight ball as far as who will be able to participate. Players who are dealing with injury will show up to camp five days prior to begin their rehab. Unfortunately, three key players could be placed on the PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) list and miss a portion of training camp.
For those unfamiliar with how it works, players that are injured before the start of training camp and fail their physical, they get placed on the active/PUP list. They remain on the roster and can participate in team meetings and are able to meet with trainers and the medical staff to help their recovery progress faster. The players who are on the PUP list are not allowed to practice until they are medically cleared. Should the injuries linger through training camp and , they will With that said, who are the players in jeopardy of missing the start of training camp?
Running back Isiah Pacheco
Starting running back Isiah Pacheco had off-season surgery on his broken hand the day after Super Bowl 57. While that injury has healed up well, there’s one other injury he suffered that might be a concern. Pacheco played through a torn labrum as well during the Super Bowl. That’s the injury that reportedly might keep him on the sideline for a while, according to a report from Nick Taylor of The Athletic last month. It remains to be seen what progress Pacheco has made if any as training camp gets closer. My guess is he will miss the first few weeks of camp, but Chiefs fans should keep a close eye on this situation. There’s also a key defensive player that might miss a portion of camp as well.
Cornerback L’Jarius Sneed
Sneed dealt with a knee injury towards the back end of last season but it’s been really quiet as far as if he had any type of procedure. As far as the injury itself, it’s some type of joint injury. Andy Reid says that Sneed should be ready to go for training camp if there’s no lingering effects from the injury such as swelling. It’s worth keeping an eye on. There’s one more player that unfortunately is dealing with an injury of his own.
Defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton
Wharton is perhaps the one player that will need the most time to progress from his injury. He suffered a torn ACL last season in week five against the Raiders. He didn’t participate in OTAs and his timeline to be back for training camp is unknown at this time but what little news that has been shared has been positive. Usually for knee ligament injuries, it takes anywhere from 9-12 months and maybe longer depending on the type of athlete that suffers the injury.
There is no rush in recovery for any type of injury, but especially for football players. Nonetheless, I believe Kansas City will have the majority of their roster back at full strength by the time the season begins.
