Chiefs training camp observations Day 11: WR Justyn Ross getting better and better before our eyes

The Kansas City Chiefs wrapped up three consecutive practice sessions with a padded practice on Friday.

Andy Reid ditched his typical 10-10-10 practice before the break opting for another padded practice session before a day off on Saturday. The Chiefs will return to training camp on Sunday morning kicking off a stretch of four consecutive practice sessions before breaking ahead of Preseason Week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars on the road.

There were times during practice on Friday when it felt like players were distracted and looking toward the day off. Other times, they were locked in and focused with purpose.

Chiefs WR Justyn Ross getting better and better

After both WRs Nikko Remigio and Xavier Worthy caught my attention , another WR managed to catch my eye on Friday. Former UDFA WR Justyn Ross has spent multiple years in the system in Kansas City and it looks like he's finally starting to put it together at training camp -- at least during red zone work. The majority of 11-on-11 team drills on Friday took place in the red zone.

I noted during practice that Ross was living in the right corner of the red zone. He had multiple touchdown receptions with the first-team offense working against a variety of different defensive backs and few could stop him from high-pointing the ball and coming down with the catch. I counted five targets on the day, with only two of them being disrupted and one being caught out of bounds. One defensive back had a rep that was borderline a penalty, but rookie DB Jaden Hicks was the only one to properly defend this route against Ross.

Chiefs backup QB Carson Wentz spoke about Ross' development during the offseason program and training camp, which has been apparent to him since he arrived with the team.

"He's a big physical body (with) a huge catch radius and just a guy that's-- since I've got here from the spring just keeps getting better and better," Wentz said of Ross. "You put the pads on, you get press coverage in the kind of excels and that's where he kind of thrives. So, especially down here today when we're doing a lot of red zone drills where he kind of shines and performs. It's been fun to kind of see him keep getting better within this offense."

The Chiefs have a bit of a logjam at the wide receiver position, but Ross has the frame and physicality that might make him extra valuable to this offense. Notably, rookie TE Jared Wiley was tasked with running some of the same routes with the second-team offense and twice was unable to come down with the grab when targeted.

It'll be important for Ross to continue to show out during camp and the preseason.

Injuries mounting in the cornerback room

The Kansas City Chiefs were already missing CB Nazeeh Johnson with a hamstring injury, but now CB Kelvin Joseph has joined him after a few consecutive practice sessions working with the starters. Andy Reid described his injury as a "slight hamstring" injury.

Jaylen Watson recently returned from the PUP list , but he hasn't been cleared for contact yet. He wore the yellow non-contact jersey during practice. He was cleared for 7-on-7 work and got roughly five repetitions during those drills in the red zone. As I was walking down to the media tent, I overheard him speaking to a staff member and saying he felt good after practice.

The Chiefs are running thin on depth at the cornerback position, and after a standout practice on Thursday, it was veteran CB Keith Taylor who was called upon in certain sub-package looks with the starters. Other times, it was Trent McDuffie, Josh Williams, and Chamarri Conner in nickel.

Other players missing from practice included Kadarius Toney (ankle), Justin Watson (foot), and Deon Bush (ankle). Derrick Nnadi, Charles Omenihu, and Justin Reid remain on injury lists.

There was also another injury during practice. . .

Chiefs OL Wanya Morris leaves practice with an injury

After starting the day next to Kingsley Suamataia filling in at the left guard position, Wanya Morris left the practice field for the training tent just past the halfway point. The training staff worked on his shoulder in the tent for quite some time before he eventually hopped in the front seat of a cart and took a ride up the hill at Missouri Western State University.

After practice, Andy Reid told reporters that he had a shoulder injury and was in the process of getting it checked out. As for Morris playing at left guard in practice, he says it's not an indication that Kingsley Suamataia has won the left tackle job.

"No, not necessarily," Reid said. "But it gives us a chance to let Wanya (Morris) work a little guard. And you know, Andy (Heck) moves those guys around. Wanya got a shot at it today and it's not a permanent thing. That's not what it is. It's just a shot to get in there and for us to see what we have."

Quick hitters

• The Chiefs like to rotate guys frequently during team installs, and it's clearly one of the ways they're able to quiz players on the spot and see that they know their stuff when it comes to the playbook. I noticed that the WRs have rotated with the first-team offense on a near-daily basis.
• People will point to the Isiah Pacheco - Drue Tranquill pass protection rep as the best of the day, but I actually thought Louis Rees-Zammit against Swayze Bozeman rep was better. Both players battled, but Rees-Zammit eventually took him out of the play. It's good to see from Rees-Zammit a day after he got some one-on-one instruction from assistant RB coach Porter Ellett on pass protection drills. Rees-Zammit is also getting more and more work with the second-team offense.
• Kamal Hadden had a blitz rep in 1-on-1's against Irv Smith Jr. that was really impressive. Cleanest win of the day, in my opinion.
• Carson Steele, Jared Wiley, and Deneric Prince also had some good wins in the pass protection drills.
  
• In RB vs. LB 1-on-1's in pass coverage, Deneric Prince had the catch of the day against Jack Cochrane. He elevated over the veteran linebacker to make a remarkable grab and managed to stay in control through a hard fall to the ground.
• Louis Rees-Zammit followed that play up with a catch where he ran away from Leo Chenal and caught a perfect pass in stride.
• Outside of a big win from Jack Cochrane in pass protection 1-on-1's, RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire had a really strong day working with the No. 2 offense. It feels like a weight was lifted after he opened up about his PTSD with reporters on Thursday.
• Trent McDuffie had my favorite pass defense of the day, going up for a potential one-handed interception against Jared Wiley. He was unable to control it through the catch, but he was that close to making a pick against a player who is much, much bigger than he is.
• Kamal Hadden knocked away a pass from Carson Wentz in 11-on-11 team drills. We haven't seen much of Hadden so far, but the rookie popped out for me today.
• Neil Farrell Jr. is extremely stout in the run game. He was basically immovable during the 9-on-7 run period.
• Malik Herring has been playing both defensive end and defensive tackle at camp. I thought he was better playing inside today.

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