Danny Shelton motivated as ever to make Chiefs roster
Plus transactions, latest KCSN podcasts, Substack articles and more Chiefs news.
Charles Goldman
Kansas City Chiefs fans found themselves amused by the performance of veteran DT Danny Shelton in preseason Week 1 against the New Orleans Saints.
On one particular snap, Shelton went flying through the air in an attempt to run down a tackle. What was a funny moment to watch on tape signified so much more for Shelton, though. After spending the 2022 NFL season on the bench, he was empowered to become a better version of himself. He lost weight and slimmed down in hopes of recapturing some of what made him a first-round draft pick back in 2015.
“Yeah, that was like the old Danny,” Shelton told reporters. “Back in the day, I used to be flying everywhere. It just felt great being out there running with the guys. We have a great group of guys, young guys, everybody is competitive. I was telling (Defensive Line) Coach (Joe) Cullen that during training camp that I was impressed with how everybody came prepared during training camp and just up the competition level. Yeah, being out there, it was just fun to just compete with everybody.”
Shelton has 101 games played and 72 starts under his belt during the course of his NFL career, yet he played a career-low one game last season. He didn’t even contribute a dozen snaps on the field during that game. This year, he’s aiming to not only make the 53-man roster in Kansas City, but he also has goals to contribute every single week of the season.
“My mindset is not to make this team but to be on the field,” Shelton explained. “I want to win my third ring and in order to do that I need to be on the field, and I need to contribute. Not saying that being on practice squad last year, I didn’t contribute but that’s not the lifestyle I want to live. I came in the league wanting to play the game that I love and being on the side last year kind of re-motivated me. Even at the Super Bowl and everything, it re-motivated me to get back into it, get back in shape and that was my goal coming into training camp.”
Shelton’s transformation has been noticed by the coaching staff and he’ll have one more opportunity to prove that he belongs in preseason Week 3.
Mike Danna back to full strength after training camp injury
Chiefs veteran DL Mike Danna missed several training camp practices and preseason Week 1 with a calf injury. It was a bit concerning because he missed time in 2023 with a calf injury too. Thankfully, he has returned to the lineup healthy ahead of the start of the year.
“I feel great, I’m 100%,” Danna told reporters. “(I’m) Just working back in, we have a great group of guys ahead of me, so it’s always next man up in that case. But right now, I feel great. I have a great training staff to help me get back and help me with the maintenance, so I feel good. Last preseason went well so I’m excited about stacking the days.”
Entering the final year of his rookie contract, Danna will look to be a key contributor on the defensive side of the ball for Kansas City. As the great Terez Paylor used to say, “The contract year is undefeated.”
Saturday heat of no concern to Andy Reid
It’s been scorching hot during Kansas City this past week and there has been some concern regarding the weather for Saturday’s game. Will the players be able to handle the conditions? Chiefs HC Andy Reid doesn’t think it’ll be a big deal for his players.
“Yeah, these next couple of days I think are probably going to take care of that,” Reid said on Monday. “I think it cools down just a little bit, I think you’re looking at 89 (degrees) or something like that. It’ll be warm, we’ll just keep our rotation going. We’re going to have that (heat) in
Jacksonville and possibly our night game against the Lions, but Jacksonville is a noon game, so we got to be ready for a hot one there too.”
The team practiced in their indoor facility with no air conditioning early this week, which was hardly a pleasant experience for the players. However, that should have them prepped for the warm weather they’ll soon endure with the season around the corner.
Outside the Trenches - How the Chris Jones holdout is affecting the Chiefs and the NFL:
KCSN’s Tucker Franklin, Brien Hanley, and Nick Leckey discuss the hot topics around the NFL including contract holdouts for Chris Jones, Josh Jacobs, and more, plus potential landing spots for Jonathan Taylor, and a wave of early retirements in the league. Later, they wrap up with blind nil.
Transactions :
- 8/21 - Signed to 90-man roster - WR Juwan Green
- 8/21 - Waived-injured - WR Kekoa Crawford
Quick Hits:
- The Athletic’s Nate Taylor took a look into the latest development in the Chris Jones holdout.
- The KC Star spoke with Chiefs president Mark Donovan about planning for a future without the Royals as neighbors at the Truman Sports Complex.
- Grass installation at Arrowhead Stadium is underway ahead of the Chiefs’ preseason Week 3 tilt with the Browns.
- I took a look at the financial implications of Chris Jones’ holdout as it relates to the Chiefs’ salary cap.
