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At a recent OTA practice earlier this month, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid surprised Bolton with a special announcement, as revealed Monday in a video posted by the school’s X account.
“You guys know I’m a Missouri Tiger at heart,” Reid said to a circle of Chiefs players. “I had a chance to coach there … and we’ve got a couple of Missouri Tigers here. But we’ve got one that’s real, real famous right
now — real famous, and not only for his play here with the Chiefs, but also what he did at the University of Missouri, which are great things. … And we know him as kind of a team guy.
“This is Nick Bolton, right? We know him as a team guy, the ultimate team guy. But today, today you’re gonna get an individual award. Today you’re going into the University of Missouri Athletic Hall of Fame.”
Bolton’s teammates then called for the mild-mannered linebacker to deliver a speech. “It’s just an honor,” Bolton said. “The state, the city, from Columbia all the way to Kansas City, man, it’s kind of been my home, my peace. A lot of friends, a lot of memories. Hope we continue to make them, man. So, so proud of y’all guys, man. Y’all helped me get to this and helped me be who I am as well. So M-I-Z.”
2026 NFL rookie updates: Tracking all first-round draft picks | ESPN
6. Kansas City Chiefs
Mansoor Delane, CB, LSUAlthough he missed mandatory minicamp with a shoulder injury, Delane was quite effective during voluntary practices. When training camp begins, Delane is projected to be a starter who will get plenty of one-on-one instruction from longtime coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. “We all felt like he was the top corner in this class,” Spagnuolo said. — Nate Taylor
29. Kansas City Chiefs
Peter Woods, DT, ClemsonSeveral veterans were quick to notice Woods’ athleticism and explosiveness in the offseason program, whether on the practice fields or in the weight room. Even though Woods is not a projected starter, he should offer plenty of rotational contributions as an additional interior pass rusher next to Chris Jones. “I’ve been really, really impressed with Pete,” defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo said. “Not only [with] what he does on the field but the way he carries himself in the [classroom].” — Taylor
1. Brock Bowers, Raiders
2025 Stats: 64 catches, 680 yards, 7 TDs (12 games)After a historic rookie season, the 2024 13th overall pick’s numbers took a significant dip in year two, as his catches and yards were nearly cut in half. However, Bowers also battled injuries, missing multiple games at two points in the season, and he was playing on one of, if not the worst, offenses in the NFL last season. Still, he ranked in the top 10 at the position in the three major receiving categories and is one of the hardest tight ends to cover in the NFL.
2. Travis Kelce, Chiefs
2025 Stats: 76 catches, 851 yards, 5 TDs (17 games)Kelce isn’t the same athlete he used to be, making it difficult for him to create separation consistently. However, the 13-year veteran has become a savvy pass-catcher, exposing holes in zone coverage and operating scramble drills at a high level. It also helps that he and Patrick Mahomes have great chemistry together and are always on the same page. While Kelce’s production has been sliding over the last three years, he still ranked tied for sixth in receptions and fourth in yards among tight ends league-wide last year.
The Chiefs used Leo Chenal as a specialist. Washington sees something more. | Last Man Standig
“He’s one of my favorite guys,” the Kansas City Chiefs head coach said. “Pass rush, cover, spy a quarterback because he’s got the speed. Stronger than an ox. Put him down in a down position, up position. He can do a lot of different things for you.”
Holding court with reporters at May’s league meetings in Phoenix, Reid summed up the rising fifth-year linebacker with a bumper-sticker-worthy line.
“He’s dirty tough.”
Reid wasn’t referring to cheap shots. He was describing the Wisconsin product whose NFL.com’s 2022 pre-draft profile compared his dense, muscular frame to a “cinder block.”
Defensive lineman Charles Omenihu, Chenal’s teammate in Kansas City, said, “Leo’s a physical, physical, physical player. When you watch Leo’s tape, you’re gonna see that he takes no prisoners.”
The physique allows the 6-foot-3, 250-pound Chenal, 25, to tangle with hulking linemen in the trenches.
There’s also the speed. Chenal ran a 4.53-second 40-yard dash at the 2022 NFL Combine, producing one of the best athletic testing profiles among linebackers in recent years, allowing the relentless defender to chase down offensive playmakers.
All of it comes with an aggressive “see ball, get ball” mentality paired with an analytical approach.
“He’s actually a brilliant kid,” Reid said.
Around the NFL
Former NFL RB Chris Johnson reveals ALS diagnosis | NFL.com
Johnson said in an interview with Michael Strahan on “Good Morning America” that he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in 2025. The disease has spread so rapidly that he now uses a speech-generating machine triggered by his eyes to speak.
“First, I want people to know I’m still me,” Johnson said. “ALS has changed what my body can do, but it hasn’t changed who I am.”
The rapid deterioration, all happening within a year, physically sapped the former star running back, but it hasn’t weakened his determination to continue battling.
“Honestly, I don’t know if you ever fully process it,” he said of the diagnosis. “At first, you’re in shock. Then you realize you have two choices. You can give up, or you can fight. I chose to fight.”
The 40-year-old said the symptoms first started with a weak grip. Soon after receiving the diagnosis, his voice was recorded, so the speech-generating device mirrors his.
“It’s continued to progress much faster than I ever imagined. I want people to understand just how quickly ALS can attack your body,” he said. “Just over a year ago, I was picking up my 7-year-old daughter so she’d make a wish with her birthday cake. Today, I couldn’t do that.”
Lions release Terrion Arnold after CB’s bond set at $1M | ESPN
The Detroit Lions have released Terrion Arnold after he was arrested last week on felony charges of armed robbery and kidnapping, the team announced Monday.
Arnold had his bond set at $1 million Monday by Hillsborough County (Florida) Judge Christopher Sabella, who added the following conditions:
He is not allowed contact with the six co-defendants or the witnesses in the case.
He must surrender his passport within 48 hours.
And he was ordered confined to his residence in Tallahassee, Florida, except when he would be playing, training and traveling with the Lions or making court-related appearances or legal appointments.
The state asked the judge to require Arnold to wear a GPS tracking device, but his attorneys argued that he would not be able to play football with such a device.
Donte Jackson: I have emerged as “one of the top corners in the league” | Pro Football Talk
Cornerback Donte Jackson has nine interceptions and 20 passes defensed over the past two seasons. His 2024 season with the Steelers got him a two-year, $13 million deal with the Chargers.
His 2025 season with the Chargers has him wanting even more in 2026.
“Just to keep the foot on the pedal,” Jackson said, via Omar Navarro of the team website. “I feel like the last two seasons I’ve emerged, to me personally, as one of the top corners in the league. That’s just kind of how I feel, so just adding to that.”
Jackson, 30, had a Pro Bowl-caliber season even if he wasn’t rewarded with a first-all-star honor. He had a team-best 12 passes defensed last season and tied for the team lead with four interceptions.
In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride
Countdown to Kickoff: 77 Days until the Chiefs’ season opener
77: The number of touches Travis Kelce had last season
77 is the lowest number of times tight end Travis Kelce has touched the ball in a season since 2015, the first year Kelce earned Pro Bowl honors in the NFL.
That low number came in a campaign when Kelce still felt like the team’s top target, and he was more efficient with his opportunities than in the previous two seasons. He averaged 11.1 yards per touch, topping his marks in 2024 (8.4 yards) and 2023 (10.6 yards).
With Kelce back for his 14th season, it’s reasonable to see this number remain low compared to his career average of 97 touches per year. The Chiefs’ offense needs the players around the all-time tight end to step up, which helps ensure that Kelce’s production at this quantity could still be high-quality.
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