Quarterback Patrick Mahomes acknowledged some apprehension on Friday night when he returned to the Kansas City Chiefs’ practice facility for the first time in months amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“There will definitely be little concern,” Mahomes said Saturday. “He’d be lying to say he didn’t care.”
Mahomes said his fears were mostly alleviated during a tour of the practice facilities and Arrowhead Stadium, which will house parts of the training ground: the meeting stadium and locker areas, the practice and conditioning facilities.
Mahomes said he is comfortable and that everything has been done reasonably to protect him and the other Chiefs players, citing the requirements to wear a mask and social distancing for plexiglass partitions between lockers,
“It’s better than I thought I’d get in,” said Mahomes. “That calmed me down a bit, knowing that this time they will put me in the best possible situation.”
“You can see that the NFL and the NFLPA are really taking this seriously [with] social distancing, wearing a mask. “
Coach Andy Reid similarly said he was comfortable with the work environment.
“People have gone to great lengths to [protect players and coaches]”Reid said.” We are as safe as you can be here.
“Dedication and discipline when you leave this facility will be important. When you are here, it is a safe environment. It should continue like this once you leave here.”
Boss rookies and select veterans, such as quarterbacks, have been tested twice for COVID-19 and allowed to enter the facility if both tests were negative. Other veterans were to be screened twice for four days starting Saturday and will be allowed to enter the facility after the test results have been confirmed.
Mahomes also said the recent talk by two of his teammates, defensive lineman Chris Jones and wide receiver Tyreek Hill, about the Bosses winning multiple Super Bowl championships would be motivating. The Chiefs in February won their first Super Bowl in 50 years by beating the San Francisco 49ers.
“You love guys who have goals,” said Mahomes. “They want to be in Kansas City for a long time. They want to win championships. They don’t want to be average. They want to be great every year.”
“They know they are going to have to go out every day and try it.”
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