Kansas City Chiefs rookie wide receiver Cyrus Allen left practice Saturday after a collision with teammate Kaiir Elam, and initial tests showed a shin bruise with no tear or broken bone, ESPN reported, citing sources.
The incident occurred during a special teams period as the Chiefs practiced pooch punts. Allen and defensive back Kaiir Elam, both lined up as gunners, ran into each other near the goal line while attempting to track the ball. Elam walked off, and Allen remained on the grass before two staffers helped him onto a cart, Fox News reported.
Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub said Allen had been making a strong push for a role before the injury. “I hate to see somebody get hurt, especially on a special teams drill,” Toub said. “We’ll see how he is. He’s really doing well on offense, and he’s doing well for me too. He’s at gunner and returner, and he’s doing a real good job, putting himself in a good position to be a guy that’s going to help us this year.”
The team selected Allen in the fifth round of the NFL draft in April. He emerged as one of quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ go-to targets early in camp and led the Chiefs’ receivers in catches during 11-on-11 work, Fox News reported. Toub added that rookies typically participate on special teams until they establish themselves on offense or defense.
Receiver Xavier Worthy also had an injury scare during 11-on-11 work, according to Fox News. Worthy went down after hauling a deep pass and landing on his shoulder. Worthy previously injured his right shoulder on the third snap of last season and underwent an offseason procedure to address the issue, Fox News reported.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
