Teicher: Injured Chiefs quarterback Cassel returns to practice

[Tribal Warfare]

Injured Chiefs quarterback Cassel returns to practice
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star

With the Chiefs and their forlorn offense badly in need of some good fortune, they received some with quarterback Matt Cassel’s return to the practice field Monday.

“He’s our leader,” fullback Mike Cox said. “It was good to have his presence back in the huddle and on the field.”

It remained unclear whether the Chiefs would receive whatever lift Cassel could provide in Sunday’s season opener in Baltimore. Coach Todd Haley would not commit to Cassel being ready to play against the Ravens.

“I think as the week goes on, we’ll know a little bit more with Matt,” Haley said. “It was good that he was out there and he was able to get through some things.

“I think it was positive he was on the field.”

Cassel sprained his knee while being sacked on his first pass attempt in the preseason game against Seattle two weeks ago. He did not play in last week’s game against St. Louis.

In the meantime, the Chiefs failed to score a touchdown against the Rams with Brodie Croyle, Tyler Thigpen or Matt Gutierrez at quarterback. Croyle was listed by the Chiefs as the top backup at quarterback, meaning he would be the likely starter in Baltimore if Cassel doesn’t play.

Monday usually isn’t a practice day for the Chiefs during the season. It’s normally a day spent reviewing the Sunday game.

But because they finished the preseason on Thursday, Haley sent the players out Monday, and Cassel’s chances of playing could get a boost with the extra day of work.

“Anytime there is something wrong, how they respond to some work is important,” Haley said. “Again, it’s good this is a long week and we’ve got the extra day. That will help with anybody that’s nicked up. That’s good for him.”

The Chiefs have no practice today and will resume preparations for the Ravens on Wednesday. Haley indicated Cassel would have to continue to practice if he’s to play on Sunday.

“I think that will be pretty much for everybody,” Haley said. “You’ve got to practice to have a chance to play. This is a long week, so it’s a little different, but I would say generally you need to have a full Friday practice in to have a chance.”

Monday’s practice was the first for the Chiefs since they trimmed their roster to the regular-season limit of 53 over the weekend. All players practiced, including cornerback Brandon Flowers, who missed the Rams game because of a shoulder injury.

Flowers said afterward he will play against the Ravens and indicated his absence from last week’s game was only precautionary.

“I’m where I need to be,” Flowers said. “I’m ready to go.”

The team portions of practice were closed to the media, but the Chiefs issued a depth chart revealing they had not reversed three recent defensive lineup changes. Inside linebacker Derrick Johnson, free safety Jarrad Page and nose tackle Ron Edwards are still listed as backups.

They are replaced by Demorrio Williams, Jon McGraw and Tank Tyler, respectively.

The Chiefs over the weekend released two starters, offensive tackle Damion McIntosh and strong safety Bernard Pollard. Ikechuku Ndukwe, recently acquired in a trade with Miami, is the starting right tackle, while veteran Mike Brown is the strong safety.

The Chiefs signed Brown to be competition for Pollard and Page, but provided little throughout most of training camp. He had a quiet camp until recently, when his playmaking ability surfaced.

Brown, who has seven career touchdowns, made interceptions in recent practice sessions and broke up a pass against St. Louis. His progress apparently convinced the Chiefs that Pollard, a two-year starter, was expendable.

“I think all of us are surprised Bernard is not here,” Brown said. “I’m confident in my ability. I feel I still have a lot of football left in my tank. Am I as fast as I was as a rookie? Probably not, but I think I can make that up by recognizing plays quicker and having a better feel for the game.”