KANSAS CITY, Mo — It's not training camp. Or mini-camp. But this week, the Kansas City Chiefs are set for phase three of organized team activities.
OTAs they're called.
As the Chiefs complete their off-season work, they're hoping reigning NFL MVP QB Patrick Mahomes and a capable and healthy wide receiver like Sammy Watkins will equal a recipe for success for Kansas City.
"Everything is a little easier," head coach Andy Reid said Thursday. "All the verbiage, and sorting it out, and getting to where you want to go."
Mahomes has been impressed with the way Watkins has come to OTA's, ready to make an immediate impact.
"For him to be out here working hard, you see it everyday." Mahomes said. "You know he's primed and ready to go out there this season."
Watkins continues to look great every day during the voluntary workouts, but knows he's not the only target Mahomes has at his disposal.
"We have so many guys that he can throw the ball to and not just me." Watkins said. "(I'm going to) Just continue to build with him and keep doing the things I've been doing."
Unlike recent years, both Watkins and Mahomes are becoming more vocal in their leadership and holding one another accountable.
"It's a good thing when we can joke around and be friendly, like, 'Hey man step it up or speed up a little bit. Stop coming in dead last,'" Watkins said. "Those are things you can take from a quarterback actually doing it on the field and off the field."
Mahomes isn't being shy about being the leader of this football team.
"Last year I was trying to become the leader; trying to figure out ways to do different things with different players and different teammates," Mahomes said. "Now I kind of have that schedule of knowing what I need to do each and every week to get better."
Of course these workouts are not mandatory.
One player not present is defensive lineman Chris Jones, who is working out in Miami. When asked about it, Reid shrugged it off saying he's only worried about the players who are here, and getting better with the team.
