Kansas

Chiefs Training Camp Battles to Watch: Top Three Stand Above the Rest

Published

2 years ago

July 20, 2024

Chiefs Training Camp Battles to Watch: Top Three Stand Above the Rest

The Kansas City Chiefs’ 2024 season has unofficially kicked off with players showing up at training camp this week. With all of the craziness off the field during this past offseason, it will be nice to see the team getting back into a routine on the field.

The stakes continue to grow even higher for the Chiefs after winning another Super Bowl. Training camp will be sure to set more attendance records as the Chiefs look to be the first team in NFL history to win three consecutive championships. In order for the three-peat to occur, the Chiefs will need to continue their steady play. While a large majority of last year’s championship core is returning, there are a few position groups that will have new faces and some question marks heading into the season. This is where training camp and preseason will really help the Chiefs figure out who can separate and become starters vs. depth pieces.

Let’s take a look at three position group camp battles that should draw the most eyes as the season approaches.

This is probably the most important camp battle in 2024. While there’s still a chance the Chiefs add a veteran option to come in and compete for depth, this battle is going to come down to two guys: second-year third-round pick Wanya Morris and rookie second-rounder Kingsley Suamataia. One of these players will be asked to protect the blindside of the best quarterback in the NFL and reigning Super Bowl MVP, Patrick Mahomes.

Morris gained some starting experience in 2023 when former Chiefs starting left tackle Donovan Smith went down with an injury. This could give Morris the upper hand in the competition going into camp. However, the Chiefs drafted Suamataia in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft with high expectations. There has been quite the buzz surrounding the rookie heading into training camp and there’s no doubt it will be a true competition. Mahomes has already been very complimentary of Suamataia. Is this a foreshadowing of things to come? We shall see as this left tackle camp battle sorts itself out.

The wide receiver room is going to be interesting to watch throughout training camp. Ever since the Chiefs signed Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, it’s been assumed he will be the top receiver of the group. However, Rashee Rice separated himself at the end of his rookie season and showed he has the potential to be a top receiving option in this offense. Of course, there are plenty of questions surrounding Rice and what his availability will be this season with a possible suspension looming. No one knows exactly how that is going to play out, which potentially makes this camp battle even more important.

After Brown and Rice, it does feel like it will be a battle for the third spot and beyond in the wide receiver room. The guy who everyone wants to see step up and take that third spot is rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy. Typically it takes rookies a little bit to acclimate in head coach Andy Reid’s system, but there’s hope Worthy can get rolling from the start of the season. He will compete with a couple of veterans who will be looking to continue to make a few plays here and there for this offense. Justin Watson and Mecole Hardman are back, and while WR3 should be their ceiling, all it takes is one injury or a suspension to elevate one of those guys to an increased role in the offense.

There are also a couple of familiar faces who have not lived up to their potential thus far in their young careers. Kadarius Toney and Skyy Moore underwhelmed last season and left Chiefs fans wanting to see them on the bench by the time the playoffs rolled around. Chiefs coaches granted that wish and Toney and Moore didn’t factor into the team’s playoff run last season.

Along with Toney and Moore, there will be a battle at the bottom of the roster for the final few positions in the receiver room. Wide receivers like Justyn Ross, Cornell Powell, Nikko Remigio, Montrell Washington, Phillip Brooks and Kyle Sheets will all be trying to make the roster when the team gets to final cuts. The wide receiver room will be one of the more fascinating camp battles to watch to see how it shakes out throughout the preseason.

Heading into this season, Isaiah Pacheco and Clyde Edwards-Helaire are set up as the top two running backs on the roster. Both of these guys have plenty of starting (and playoff) experience on their resumes. There’s not a battle for the starting spot, but things get interesting after that with veteran running back Jerick McKinnon remaining unsigned. A 2023 preseason fan-favorite, Deneric Prince, looks likely to have an opportunity to take that next step and jump into the role of third-string running back. Keaontay Ingram could compete as well.

The big story of camp in the running back room will likely be around international signing Louis Rees-Zammit. The former rugby star has a lot of hype surrounding him heading into camp and social media clips are already beginning to circulate. Rees-Zammit, who has been nicknamed “Rees-Lightning,” was known for his speed during his rugby playing days. Getting used to pads and playing at NFL speed will be a test, but Rees-Zammit could take that final running back spot on the roster. There’s also a good chance he will be used on special teams as he has a unique skill set that could help the team with new kickoff rules this season.

Between Prince, Ingram and Rees-Zammit, there will be plenty of fun discussion around these guys and their chance to make the final roster.

While training camp won’t always be the most thrilling part of a football season, it does give us something to get excited about before the season begins. These position groups should be highlighted as players fight to make the team, and camp battles are just the beginning of the process.

Published

3 hours ago

January 22, 2026

Press Room

Kansas coach Bill Self plans to return vs. Kansas State, and Peterson is questionable for the game – WTOP News

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas coach Bill Self intends to be on the sideline Saturday night when the No. 19…

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas coach Bill Self intends to be on the sideline Saturday night when the No. 19 Jayhawks make the 2-hour trip down Interstate 70 to play Kansas State. He just isn’t sure whether he’ll have Darryn Peterson on the court.

Peterson, who is widely considered a potential No. 1 NBA draft pick, had 16 points while playing 32 minutes in a 75-69 win over Colorado on Tuesday night. But he was less explosive after turning his ankle, and Self said Thursday that it turned out to be a sprain.

“He’s got a pretty severe ankle sprain, but fortunately that’s all it is, a sprain,” Self said. “Hopefully he’ll be able to go and play (on Saturday night), but we’re not at a point where we’ll be able to make a decision on that yet.”

It is merely the latest injury for the freshman guard. Peterson missed several games earlier this season with cramping issues.

Meanwhile, the 63-year-old Self said he was feeling good after a brief trip to the hospital earlier this week because of what he called some “abnormal” chest pain. Self was given some fluids but was unable to accompany the Jayhawks on their trip to Colorado, where former Kansas and NBA star Jacque Vaughn coached them to victory.

“The situation I had was very similar to what many people have. Mine got me pretty good for a short snippet of time and then was under control,” Self said. “That won’t have any impact at all moving forward in any way, shape or form.”

Self has had a series of heart ailments, including one three years ago that kept him from coaching in the Big 12 and NCAA tourneys. He had two stents inserted to help treat blocked arteries in that case, then had two more stents inserted last July.

Self said he watched the Colorado game on TV on Tuesday night and was back in the office the following day.

“I know now what it means to be an ‘armchair quarterback,’ because I sat there and watched and I had all the answers,” Self said a wry grin. “I started thinking to myself, ‘Well, I have all the answers now,’ but those would be the same answers I would have if I was coaching, and not all those answers work, nor do people execute the way you think they should. So I saw what it means to be an armchair quarterback. I can agree with many fans when they are doing the same thing.”

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© 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.

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Kansas

WAYMASTER: From the Dome to Home, Jan. 20, 2026

Published

15 hours ago

January 22, 2026

Press Room

WAYMASTER: From the Dome to Home, Jan. 20, 2026

Rep. Troy Waymastser, R-Bunker Hill. Courtesy photo

January 20, 20256
Topeka

GOVERNOR’S LAST BUDGET

On Wednesday, January 14, 2026, the Governor’s final budget proposal of her term, for fiscal year 2027, was presented to a joint meeting of the House Appropriations and Senate Ways & Means committees. The budget presentation serves to inform the Legislature of the Governor’s spending and taxing priorities for the upcoming fiscal year.

Overall the proposed budget’s spending increases were lean but did add $171.3 million state general funds (SGF). Below is a sample of five areas where the Governor proposed new spending in her budget.

First was K-12 education. The Governor’s budget increased base spending for special education aid to schools by $50 million SGF, added $2.5 million SGF to eliminate co-payments for reduced lunches provided to students, and added $3.5 million SGF for professional development, scholarships, and mentor programs for school teachers.

Second was spending to cover funding shortfalls created by decreases in federal aid to Kansas. The Governor added $16.1 million SGF in new spending for the Kansas Department of Children and Families (DCF) to cover administrative and new compliance costs of the Supplemental & Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). $5 million SGF was also added to the Adjutant General’s office to reimburse the Emergency Management Performance Grants fund.

Third was mental health. $3.6 million SGF was added to implement a Community Support Waiver (SDW) program, to provide reduced services for individuals currently waiting on the Intellectual Developmentally Disabled (I/DD) waiver waitlist that require fewer services than provided under the I/DD program. $2.8 million SGF was also added to the Technology Assissted waiver, in response to alleged increase demands for the program’s services.

Fourth was spending for state hospitals. $30.9 million SGF was added to fund the new South Central Regional Mental Health Hospital in Wichita, KS, $5 million SGF was added to state-aid for behavioral beds at local hospitals, and $37 million SGF was added to fund contract nursing staff at Larned and Osawatomie State Hospitals.

Fifth and final was state employee pay. $33 million SGF was added to cover portions of a 2.5 percent salary increase for executive branch employees and $3.3 million SGF was added for a similar increase to judicial branch employees’s salaries, as requested by the Judicial Branch.

HOUSE FLOOR ACTION

The first week of the 2026 Session saw the Kansas House of Representatives introduce 52 bills, on topics ranging from public libraries to hunting. Below is a sample of three bills from those introduced this week.

First is House Bill (HB) 2421. This piece of legislation would strictly limit the use of personal wireless electronic devices by students during school hours in both public and accredited nonpublic schools in Kansas.

Second is HB 2458, which would require that property taxes and public bonds be approved by elected officials within certain tax jurisdictions.

Third and last is HB 2470, which would grant municipalities in Kansas greater freedom in designating neighborhood revitalization districts.

COMMITTEE HAPPENINGS

House Appropriations (HAPP) held its first committee meeting this session on Thursday, January 15, 2026. As usual there were committee staff introductions and a welcome for new and returning committee members. However, this year the committee also worked and passed out nine agency budget reports for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, a first for me during my time in the legislature.

The first three of these budgets came from the General Government Budget Subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Barbara Wasinger, R-Hays. These were the Office of Administrative Hearings, Pooled Money Investment Board, and the Public Disclosure Committee (previously named the State Ethics Commission). Said budget reports drew several questions from members regarding the agencies’ performance metrics and full-time employee positions (FTEs).

The latter six budgets came from the Agriculture & Natural Resources Budget Subcommittee, chaired by Representative Lisa Moser. These were the Board of Accountancy, Board of Veterinary Examiners, Citizen’s Utility Ratepayer Board, Kansas Corporation Commission, Kansas Department of Credit Unions, and the Office of State Bank Commissioner. Discussion on these budgets involved the same topics of concern.

It is a distinct honor to serve as your representative for the 109th Kansas House District and the state of Kansas. Please contact me with your thoughts, concerns, and questions. I always appreciate hearing from the residents of the 109th House District and others from the state of Kansas, as well.

Contact My Office
Representative Troy L. Waymaster
300 SW 10th Street
Topeka, Kansas 66612
[email protected]
www.kslegislature.org

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Kansas

Winter storm likely late this week for Kansas

Published

2 days ago

January 21, 2026

Press Room

Winter storm likely late this week for Kansas

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – It is a clear and cold, but otherwise quiet morning across Kansas. Wake-up temperatures in the 20s will eventually climb into the middle to upper 40s this afternoon underneath mainly sunny skies.

Thursday will be the proverbial calm before the (winter) storm. Mostly sunny skies will turn mainly cloudy, and temperatures will tumble into the upper 30s and lower 40s, but no travel troubles are expected.

The next batch of Arctic air will arrive on Friday setting the stage for widespread accumulating snow across the state. Afternoon temperatures in the teens will be accompanied by overnight/early morning temperatures in the single digits. However, when you factor in the wind it will feel like ten to twenty degrees below zero, making frostbite possible in as little as thirty minutes.

While the exact path of a late week storm system remains uncertain, odds are climbing that it will bring snowfall accumulation to the state. Light snow is possible along and north of I-70, while areas farther south will likely see several inches of accumulation. Expect the snow to start falling across western Kansas Friday afternoon and then spread east during the evening and night. The snow will continue Saturday before coming to a stop during the evening or night.

WICHITA AREA FORECAST:

Today: Sunny. Wind: NW/W 5-15. High: 50

Tonight: Becoming mostly clear and cold. Wind: N/E 5-10. Low: 22

Tomorrow: Increasing clouds and cooler. Wind: E/NE 5-15. High: 44

Fri: Low: 13. High: 16. Cloudy and colder; snow arrives in the afternoon.

Sat: Low: 2. High: 8. Very cold with snow.

Sun: Low: -3. High: 15. Decreasing clouds and very cold.

Mon: Low: 2. High: 27. Sunny.

Tue: Low: 15. High: 33. Partly cloudy. Breezy.

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