By GERARD WELLBROCK
 Hays Post Sports

HAYS, Kan. — After three seasons with the Kansas State
Wildcats, former Hays High School standout Gavin Meyers is returning home to
play for the Fort Hays State Tigers.

Meyers, a linebacker, entered the transfer portal this
spring after new NCAA rules limited Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) programs to
105 players. He said the whole process was a unique experience.

"Leaving K-State, obviously, it's what God wanted me to
do," Meyers said. "It's a journey he put me on. It's a new journey
I'm excited to take on and I guess I'm just excited to see where this
goes."

Meyers joins a few familiar faces on the Tigers roster. He
is reunited with former K-State teammates, including linebacker Shadryon Blanka
and cornerback Darell Jones. Meyers is also excited to play alongside former
high school teammate Gaven Haselhorst, a defensive end in his fourth season
with the Tigers.

"I'm obviously excited to be a Tiger," Meyers
said. "I love my brothers on this team. We've gotten close really fast,
and obviously being able to play with some of the K-State buddies that
transferred here as well. And then also Gaven Haselhorst, which we were pretty
tight in high school, and that was fun, so I'm glad I get to be on the field
with him again."

Meyers, an all-state selection and the Kansas Football
Coaches Association Top 11 selection at Hays High, finished his prep career
with a school-record 384 tackles. He was also named Sports in Kansas' Class 5A
Defensive Player of the Year. He said playing in front of family and friends
was a significant factor in his decision to return home.

"That was a big part of my decision as well,"
Meyers said. "Just the amount of family and support that I've had in Hays
has been awesome throughout my football career, and just to get to do that
again was definitely on my mind. And I'm excited to excited to play in front of
the home crowd again."

The Tigers open their 2025 season on Thursday, Aug. 28, at home against Angelo State.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754683002064.jpeg" alt="Fort Hays State linebacker Gavin Meyers (40) lines up to run a play during preseason camp at Lewis Field in Hays, Kan. (FHSU Athletics photo/Ryan Prickett)" />
 <figcaption>Fort Hays State linebacker Gavin Meyers (40) lines up to run a play during preseason camp at Lewis Field in Hays, Kan. (FHSU Athletics photo/Ryan Prickett)</figcaption>
 </figure>By GERARD WELLBROCK
 Hays Post SportsHAYS, Kan. — After three seasons with the Kansas State
Wildcats, former Hays High School standout Gavin Meyers is returning home to
play for the Fort Hays State Tigers.Meyers, a linebacker, entered the transfer portal this
spring after new NCAA rules limited Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) programs to
105 players. He said the whole process was a unique experience."Leaving K-State, obviously, it's what God wanted me to
do," Meyers said. "It's a journey he put me on. It's a new journey
I'm excited to take on and I guess I'm just excited to see where this
goes."<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/2150185203&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/fhsu-fb-camp-meyers" title="FHSU FB Camp - Meyers" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">FHSU FB Camp - Meyers</a></div></div>Meyers joins a few familiar faces on the Tigers roster. He
is reunited with former K-State teammates, including linebacker Shadryon Blanka
and cornerback Darell Jones. Meyers is also excited to play alongside former
high school teammate Gaven Haselhorst, a defensive end in his fourth season
with the Tigers."I'm obviously excited to be a Tiger," Meyers
said. "I love my brothers on this team. We've gotten close really fast,
and obviously being able to play with some of the K-State buddies that
transferred here as well. And then also Gaven Haselhorst, which we were pretty
tight in high school, and that was fun, so I'm glad I get to be on the field
with him again."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754683071584.jpeg" alt="Fort Hays State linebacker Gavin Meyers (40) fights off a block during preseason camp at Lewis Field in Hays, Kan. (FHSU Athletics photo/Ryan Prickett)" />
 <figcaption>Fort Hays State linebacker Gavin Meyers (40) fights off a block during preseason camp at Lewis Field in Hays, Kan. (FHSU Athletics photo/Ryan Prickett)</figcaption>
 </figure>Meyers, an all-state selection and the Kansas Football
Coaches Association Top 11 selection at Hays High, finished his prep career
with a school-record 384 tackles. He was also named Sports in Kansas' Class 5A
Defensive Player of the Year. He said playing in front of family and friends
was a significant factor in his decision to return home."That was a big part of my decision as well,"
Meyers said. "Just the amount of family and support that I've had in Hays
has been awesome throughout my football career, and just to get to do that
again was definitely on my mind. And I'm excited to excited to play in front of
the home crowd again."The Tigers open their 2025 season on Thursday, Aug. 28, at home against Angelo State.

🏈🎧 Full circle: Gavin Meyers' journey brings him home

HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State Women's Wrestling head coach Alijah Jeffery announced the signing of 13 newcomers for the upcoming 2025-26 season. It will be the program's second official season of team competition after going 8-2 in dual competition in 2024-25 and qualifying nine wrestlers to the NCWWC Championships for NCAA schools. This will be the first year women's wrestling is an official NCAA championship sport and will conduct regional and national championship events in 2026.

Below are capsules with information about each of the newcomers. They will join 23 returners on the roster from 2024-25, making a total squad size of 36 going into 2025-26. All but one of the nine NCWWC national qualifiers from last year return to the team this year.

Jaidyn Alvarado, Fr., Junction City, Kan. / Junction City HS

Junction City HS: State champion as a senior in Kansas Class 6A with a record of 33-1.

Jade Blackheart, Fr., White Rock, N.M. / Los Alamos HS

Los Alamos HS: Undefeated state champion as a junior at 145…State runner-up as a senior…Three-time state placer overall and four-time state qualifier.

Maddy Blow, Fr., Topeka, Kan. / Washburn Rural HS

Washburn Rural HS: Three-time state qualifier and finished fourth at the Kansas Class 6A state championship as a senior…Reached 100 wins in her prep career.

Kennedy Farrar, Fr., Yuma, Ariz. / Gila Ridge HS

Gila Ridge HS: Two-time Arizona Division 1 state champion…Four-time state qualifier and placer…Earned folkstyle All-America honors…Ranked 13th nationally for her class.

Olivia Griffin, Fr., Puyallup, Wash. / Peninsula HS

Peninsula HS: State placer in both freestyle and folkstyle disciplines.

Ashlyn Hahn, Fr., Stockton, Kan. / Stockton HS

Stockton HS: Undefeated state champion as a senior in Kansas Class 3-2-1A with a record of 41-0…Had an overall record of 140-15 in high school, recording 117 wins by fall…Four-time state qualifier and three-time state placer.

Peyton Hellmann, Fr., Tabor, S.D. / Bon Homme-Scotland-Avon HS

Bon Homme-Scotland-Avon HS: First ever five-time state champion in the state of South Dakota…Won 128 consecutive matches to close out her prep career, spanning from early her sophomore year to the end of her senior year…Won all five of her titles in different classes (2025-145, 2024-138, 2023-132, 2022-126, 2021-129)…Three-time Mitchell Republic Girls Wrestler of the Year…Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award for South Dakota from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame…Freestyle All-America honors…Third-place finisher in World Team Trials.

Kaylan Hitchcock, Fr., Olathe, Kan. / Olathe North HS

Olathe North HS: Two-time state champion…Four-time state placer overall, which includes a pair of runner-up finishes…First to record 150 wins in a prep career for girls wrestling in Kansas and finished with 181 wins…Recorded 150 falls throughout her high school career…Region Wrestler of the Year as a senior…Sunflower League Wrestler of the Year as a senior.

Leiannah Landreth, Fr., Peck, Kan. / Mulvane HS

Mulvane HS: Undefeated state champion as a senior…Posted a record of 150-7 in high school…Fargo All-American…Four-time state placer overall, including a pair of runner-up finishes and a third-place finish… Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award for Kansas from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Samara Markwardt, Jr., Muskogee, Okla. / Carl Albert State College

Carl Albert State: Earned NJCAA All-America honors with a sixth place finish nationally her freshman year in 2022-23…

Will Rogers HS: Oklahoma state champion and folkstyle nationals All-American…Oklahoma Coaches Association Wrestler of the Year… Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award for Oklahoma from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Camila Martinez, Fr., Benton, Kan. / Remington HS

Remington HS: State champion in Kansas Class 3-2-1A as a senior…Wichita Eagle All-Metro selection.

Hayleen Martinez, Fr., Liberal, Kan. / Liberal HS

Liberal HS: Two-time state champion in Kansas Class 6A, winning as a junior and senior…Earned Fargo All-America honors…Ranked among the top 10 nationally at 190.

Morgan Maschmann, Fr., Beatrice, Neb. / Beatrice HS

Beatrice HS: Undefeated state champion as a senior in Nebraska…Earned Fargo All-America honors…USA Junior Folkstyle national finalist.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754685580129.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsHAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State Women's Wrestling head coach Alijah Jeffery announced the signing of 13 newcomers for the upcoming 2025-26 season. It will be the program's second official season of team competition after going 8-2 in dual competition in 2024-25 and qualifying nine wrestlers to the NCWWC Championships for NCAA schools. This will be the first year women's wrestling is an official NCAA championship sport and will conduct regional and national championship events in 2026.Below are capsules with information about each of the newcomers. They will join 23 returners on the roster from 2024-25, making a total squad size of 36 going into 2025-26. All but one of the nine NCWWC national qualifiers from last year return to the team this year.Jaidyn Alvarado, Fr., Junction City, Kan. / Junction City HSJunction City HS: State champion as a senior in Kansas Class 6A with a record of 33-1.Jade Blackheart, Fr., White Rock, N.M. / Los Alamos HSLos Alamos HS: Undefeated state champion as a junior at 145…State runner-up as a senior…Three-time state placer overall and four-time state qualifier.Maddy Blow, Fr., Topeka, Kan. / Washburn Rural HSWashburn Rural HS: Three-time state qualifier and finished fourth at the Kansas Class 6A state championship as a senior…Reached 100 wins in her prep career.Kennedy Farrar, Fr., Yuma, Ariz. / Gila Ridge HSGila Ridge HS: Two-time Arizona Division 1 state champion…Four-time state qualifier and placer…Earned folkstyle All-America honors…Ranked 13th nationally for her class.Olivia Griffin, Fr., Puyallup, Wash. / Peninsula HSPeninsula HS: State placer in both freestyle and folkstyle disciplines.Ashlyn Hahn, Fr., Stockton, Kan. / Stockton HSStockton HS: Undefeated state champion as a senior in Kansas Class 3-2-1A with a record of 41-0…Had an overall record of 140-15 in high school, recording 117 wins by fall…Four-time state qualifier and three-time state placer.Peyton Hellmann, Fr., Tabor, S.D. / Bon Homme-Scotland-Avon HSBon Homme-Scotland-Avon HS: First ever five-time state champion in the state of South Dakota…Won 128 consecutive matches to close out her prep career, spanning from early her sophomore year to the end of her senior year…Won all five of her titles in different classes (2025-145, 2024-138, 2023-132, 2022-126, 2021-129)…Three-time Mitchell Republic Girls Wrestler of the Year…Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award for South Dakota from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame…Freestyle All-America honors…Third-place finisher in World Team Trials.Kaylan Hitchcock, Fr., Olathe, Kan. / Olathe North HSOlathe North HS: Two-time state champion…Four-time state placer overall, which includes a pair of runner-up finishes…First to record 150 wins in a prep career for girls wrestling in Kansas and finished with 181 wins…Recorded 150 falls throughout her high school career…Region Wrestler of the Year as a senior…Sunflower League Wrestler of the Year as a senior.Leiannah Landreth, Fr., Peck, Kan. / Mulvane HSMulvane HS: Undefeated state champion as a senior…Posted a record of 150-7 in high school…Fargo All-American…Four-time state placer overall, including a pair of runner-up finishes and a third-place finish… Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award for Kansas from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.Samara Markwardt, Jr., Muskogee, Okla. / Carl Albert State CollegeCarl Albert State: Earned NJCAA All-America honors with a sixth place finish nationally her freshman year in 2022-23…Will Rogers HS: Oklahoma state champion and folkstyle nationals All-American…Oklahoma Coaches Association Wrestler of the Year… Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award for Oklahoma from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.Camila Martinez, Fr., Benton, Kan. / Remington HSRemington HS: State champion in Kansas Class 3-2-1A as a senior…Wichita Eagle All-Metro selection.Hayleen Martinez, Fr., Liberal, Kan. / Liberal HSLiberal HS: Two-time state champion in Kansas Class 6A, winning as a junior and senior…Earned Fargo All-America honors…Ranked among the top 10 nationally at 190.Morgan Maschmann, Fr., Beatrice, Neb. / Beatrice HSBeatrice HS: Undefeated state champion as a senior in Nebraska…Earned Fargo All-America honors…USA Junior Folkstyle national finalist.

🤼 FHSU women’s announces 13 newcomers for 2025-26 season

LAWRENCE, Kan. –&nbsp;Kansas redshirt senior&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/football/roster/bryce-foster/16194">Bryce Foster</a>&nbsp;was one of 40 centers to be named to the Rimington Trophy Preseason Watch List, the organization announced on Friday. The Rimington Trophy is presented annually to the most outstanding center in NCAA Division I College Football.

Foster, of Katy, Texas, started all 12 games at center for the Jayhawks in 2024, paving the way for 211.4 rushing yards per game and allowing just 10 sacks as a unit. Foster recently was named to the Outland Trophy Preseason Watch List on July 29, awarded to college football's premiere interior lineman.

Following the end of the 2024 season, Foster was named Second Team All-Big 12 and earned All-America honors in track &amp; field at the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Championships. Foster arrived at Kansas following three seasons at Texas A&amp;M, starting 28 games and being named to the 2021 SEC All-Freshman Team, 2021 FWAA Freshman All-America Team and the 2021 The Athletic Freshman All-America First Team.

The Rimington Trophy is a member of the National College Football Awards Association. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA includes college football's most prestigious awards and its 24 awards have honored more than 900 recipients dating back to 1935.

Dave Rimington, the award's namesake, was a consensus first-team All-America center at the University of Nebraska in 1981 and 1982, during which time he became the John Outland Trophy's only two-time winner as the nation's finest college interior lineman. For more on the Rimington Trophy, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.rimingtontrophy.com/">www.rimingtontrophy.com</a>.

The Kansas Jayhawks will kick off the 2025 football season on August 23, 2025 as they debut the new David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium vs. Fresno State. The season-opener serves as the first of seven games coming to Lawrence in 2025.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754679811272.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy Kansas Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Kansas Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas AthleticsLAWRENCE, Kan. –&nbsp;Kansas redshirt senior&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/football/roster/bryce-foster/16194">Bryce Foster</a>&nbsp;was one of 40 centers to be named to the Rimington Trophy Preseason Watch List, the organization announced on Friday. The Rimington Trophy is presented annually to the most outstanding center in NCAA Division I College Football.Foster, of Katy, Texas, started all 12 games at center for the Jayhawks in 2024, paving the way for 211.4 rushing yards per game and allowing just 10 sacks as a unit. Foster recently was named to the Outland Trophy Preseason Watch List on July 29, awarded to college football's premiere interior lineman.Following the end of the 2024 season, Foster was named Second Team All-Big 12 and earned All-America honors in track &amp; field at the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Championships. Foster arrived at Kansas following three seasons at Texas A&amp;M, starting 28 games and being named to the 2021 SEC All-Freshman Team, 2021 FWAA Freshman All-America Team and the 2021 The Athletic Freshman All-America First Team.The Rimington Trophy is a member of the National College Football Awards Association. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA includes college football's most prestigious awards and its 24 awards have honored more than 900 recipients dating back to 1935.Dave Rimington, the award's namesake, was a consensus first-team All-America center at the University of Nebraska in 1981 and 1982, during which time he became the John Outland Trophy's only two-time winner as the nation's finest college interior lineman. For more on the Rimington Trophy, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.rimingtontrophy.com/">www.rimingtontrophy.com</a>.The Kansas Jayhawks will kick off the 2025 football season on August 23, 2025 as they debut the new David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium vs. Fresno State. The season-opener serves as the first of seven games coming to Lawrence in 2025.

🏈 KU's Bryce Foster named to Rimington Trophy preseason watch list

KAYS - (1400/94.3) KFIX - (96.9) KHAZ - (99.5) KJLS - (103.3) KKQY - (101.9)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Friday, August 8
 KAYS: Kansas City
Royals at Minnesota Twins, 6:30pm

Saturday, August 9
 KAYS: Kansas City
Royals at Minnesota Twins, 5:30pm
 KFIX: Kansas City Chiefs at Arizona Cardinals, 6:00pm

Sunday, August 10
 KAYS: Kansas City
Royals at Minnesota Twins, 12:30pm

KAYS - (1400/94.3) KFIX - (96.9) KHAZ - (99.5) KJLS - (103.3) KKQY - (101.9)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Friday, August 8
 KAYS: Kansas City
Royals at Minnesota Twins, 6:30pmSaturday, August 9
 KAYS: Kansas City
Royals at Minnesota Twins, 5:30pm
 KFIX: Kansas City Chiefs at Arizona Cardinals, 6:00pmSunday, August 10
 KAYS: Kansas City
Royals at Minnesota Twins, 12:30pm

🎧 Eagle Radio, Hull sports broadcast schedule

Junction City native and Kansas State University star DJ Giddens made his NFL debut in the Colts preseason opener at Baltimore on Thursday.&nbsp; Giddens carried the ball 6 times for 17 yards.&nbsp;

Giddens was chosen with the 14th pick of the fifth round – No. 151 overall – by the Indianapolis Colts on the final day of the NFL draft in May.

Giddens finished his three-year K-State career by ranking in the top 10 in school history in 11 career categories, most notably a No. 2 ranking in rushing yards per attempt (5.97), third in rushing yards (3,087), fourth in total scrimmage yards (3,766) and receiving yards by a running back (679). He became just the fourth player in school history to produce multiple 1,000-yard rushing seasons, joining fellow NFL Draft picks Darren Sproles, Daniel Thomas, Deuce Vaughn.

BALTIMORE (AP) — With Lamar Jackson sitting this one out, Baltimore’s passing game sputtered for 60 minutes.

The Ravens needed a few big plays on special teams to pull through.

LaJohntay Wester scored on an 87-yard punt return, fellow rookie Tyler Loop kicked a 52-yard field goal and Rasheen Ali added a long kickoff return to lift Baltimore to a 24-16 victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday night.

“Obviously, what LaJohntay did was awesome,” coach John Harbaugh said. “You see Rasheen hit that kick return was good. That was big field position for us.”

Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson exited on their second offensive possession of this preseason opener with a dislocated pinky on his throwing hand. Daniel Jones relieved him, and Riley Leonard came on in the second half to guide Indianapolis to its lone touchdown.

Richardson went 2 for 3 for 21 yards in his brief outing. Jones went 10 of 21 for 144 yards, and Leonard was 12 of 24 for 92 yards with an interception.

“I made some plays on my feet, but I think I can’t rely on that. In certain situations, you have to go through your reads and trust these guys,” said Leonard, who led Notre Dame to the national title game last season. “They were getting open for me, so I just had to find them. You can’t always just use that as a bailout escape route in the NFL. That’s what I’m learning.”

Cooper Rush started for the Ravens and threw for just 16 yards. Devin Leary passed for 43. Each was intercepted once.

“We’d like to pass for more than 59 yards. I assure you,” Harbaugh said.

But the Indianapolis quarterback situation was always the more compelling aspect of this game. After leading the Colts to a field goal on their opening drive, Richardson left with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/indianapolis-colts-anthony-richardson-e02fee0eb74ec5adf1e780a26d16010b">an injured finger</a>&nbsp;in the middle of their second possession after being sacked by David Ojabo.

Jones came in and played the rest of the first half but could not lead the Colts to the end zone.

“Got to be ready to go. That’s part of the game,” Jones said. “Some good, some bad. Caught a rhythm there I think at points, and we were moving the ball well, executing, but a couple things here and there kept us from getting in the end zone.”

Derrick Henry joined Jackson in sitting this game out for the Ravens, but Keaton Mitchell showed he could be a useful backup for Baltimore this season. He broke away for a 23-yard run, then scored from 22 yards out two plays later to give the Ravens a 7-3 lead.

Wester, who was drafted in the sixth round this year out of Colorado, made it 14-3 with his touchdown on special teams. He apparently called his shot to some extent in practice.

“He said he was going to take one to the crib, and he did it,” Mitchell said.

Wester also contributed a 30-yard reception in the second half.

Ali added a 69-yard kickoff return late in the first half, setting up his own 2-yard TD run that gave the Ravens a 21-9 halftime lead.

Indianapolis scored in the third quarter on a 1-yard run by Khalil Herbert.

Spencer Shrader made three field goals for Indianapolis but also hit the left upright from 52 yards in the second quarter. Maddux Trujillo did not get to try a field goal but made an extra point in the second half.

Loop, the rookie draft pick trying to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/baltimore-ravens-justin-tucker-john-harbaugh-c7385349cbf2e6c85ba22d6217d99eb9">replace Justin Tucker</a>&nbsp;for Baltimore, missed his first field goal try from 46, but then connected in the fourth quarter to give the Ravens an eight-point lead.

Baltimore DB Bilhal Kone was carted off in the first quarter with a severe knee injury that is expected to keep him out for the season.

Baltimore’s next preseason game is at Dallas on Aug. 16. Indianapolis hosts Green Bay that same day.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754656421242.png" alt="D J Giddens photo Indianapolis Colts" />
 <figcaption>D J Giddens photo Indianapolis Colts</figcaption>
 </figure>Junction City native and Kansas State University star DJ Giddens made his NFL debut in the Colts preseason opener at Baltimore on Thursday.&nbsp; Giddens carried the ball 6 times for 17 yards.&nbsp;Giddens was chosen with the 14th pick of the fifth round – No. 151 overall – by the Indianapolis Colts on the final day of the NFL draft in May.Giddens finished his three-year K-State career by ranking in the top 10 in school history in 11 career categories, most notably a No. 2 ranking in rushing yards per attempt (5.97), third in rushing yards (3,087), fourth in total scrimmage yards (3,766) and receiving yards by a running back (679). He became just the fourth player in school history to produce multiple 1,000-yard rushing seasons, joining fellow NFL Draft picks Darren Sproles, Daniel Thomas, Deuce Vaughn.BALTIMORE (AP) — With Lamar Jackson sitting this one out, Baltimore’s passing game sputtered for 60 minutes.The Ravens needed a few big plays on special teams to pull through.LaJohntay Wester scored on an 87-yard punt return, fellow rookie Tyler Loop kicked a 52-yard field goal and Rasheen Ali added a long kickoff return to lift Baltimore to a 24-16 victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday night.“Obviously, what LaJohntay did was awesome,” coach John Harbaugh said. “You see Rasheen hit that kick return was good. That was big field position for us.”Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson exited on their second offensive possession of this preseason opener with a dislocated pinky on his throwing hand. Daniel Jones relieved him, and Riley Leonard came on in the second half to guide Indianapolis to its lone touchdown.Richardson went 2 for 3 for 21 yards in his brief outing. Jones went 10 of 21 for 144 yards, and Leonard was 12 of 24 for 92 yards with an interception.“I made some plays on my feet, but I think I can’t rely on that. In certain situations, you have to go through your reads and trust these guys,” said Leonard, who led Notre Dame to the national title game last season. “They were getting open for me, so I just had to find them. You can’t always just use that as a bailout escape route in the NFL. That’s what I’m learning.”Cooper Rush started for the Ravens and threw for just 16 yards. Devin Leary passed for 43. Each was intercepted once.“We’d like to pass for more than 59 yards. I assure you,” Harbaugh said.But the Indianapolis quarterback situation was always the more compelling aspect of this game. After leading the Colts to a field goal on their opening drive, Richardson left with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/indianapolis-colts-anthony-richardson-e02fee0eb74ec5adf1e780a26d16010b">an injured finger</a>&nbsp;in the middle of their second possession after being sacked by David Ojabo.Jones came in and played the rest of the first half but could not lead the Colts to the end zone.“Got to be ready to go. That’s part of the game,” Jones said. “Some good, some bad. Caught a rhythm there I think at points, and we were moving the ball well, executing, but a couple things here and there kept us from getting in the end zone.”Derrick Henry joined Jackson in sitting this game out for the Ravens, but Keaton Mitchell showed he could be a useful backup for Baltimore this season. He broke away for a 23-yard run, then scored from 22 yards out two plays later to give the Ravens a 7-3 lead.Wester, who was drafted in the sixth round this year out of Colorado, made it 14-3 with his touchdown on special teams. He apparently called his shot to some extent in practice.“He said he was going to take one to the crib, and he did it,” Mitchell said.Wester also contributed a 30-yard reception in the second half.Ali added a 69-yard kickoff return late in the first half, setting up his own 2-yard TD run that gave the Ravens a 21-9 halftime lead.Indianapolis scored in the third quarter on a 1-yard run by Khalil Herbert.<h2>Kicking update</h2>Spencer Shrader made three field goals for Indianapolis but also hit the left upright from 52 yards in the second quarter. Maddux Trujillo did not get to try a field goal but made an extra point in the second half.Loop, the rookie draft pick trying to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/baltimore-ravens-justin-tucker-john-harbaugh-c7385349cbf2e6c85ba22d6217d99eb9">replace Justin Tucker</a>&nbsp;for Baltimore, missed his first field goal try from 46, but then connected in the fourth quarter to give the Ravens an eight-point lead.<h2>Injuries</h2>Baltimore DB Bilhal Kone was carted off in the first quarter with a severe knee injury that is expected to keep him out for the season.<h2>Up next</h2>Baltimore’s next preseason game is at Dallas on Aug. 16. Indianapolis hosts Green Bay that same day.

Kansas native DJ Giddens makes NFL debut in preseason game

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is glad that coach Andy Reid is sending him onto the field with the rest of their starters when Kansas City visits the Arizona Cardinals for their preseason opener Saturday night.

“I don’t necessarily look forward to getting hit,” Mahomes added with a smile Thursday.

Getting hit is exactly why some teams have eschewed playing starters at all in the preseason. When coaches finally decided it wasn’t worth the risk to their most valuable players, they began sitting them for one or two games, and last year, teams such as the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles sat them for the entirety of their exhibition slate.

That has never been Reid’s preference, though. Nor has it been that of Mahomes, who believes it does him some good to get hit — once, at least — so that he can get into the right mindset for the rest of the preseason and ultimately the regular season.

“There’s always a little shock,” Mahomes said.

Now, don’t get any misconceptions. The Chiefs might only have those starters on the field for a single series in Arizona, especially if it goes well. But the plan, at least after their final practice before their opener, was that each quarterback will get a full quarter — Mahomes the first, Gardner Minshew the second, Bailey Zappe the third and Chris Oladokun the fourth.

The rest of the offense would presumably follow suit.

There are certainly things that the three-time defending AFC champions want to see out of their preseason opener. Tops on the list is their new-look offense line, where first-round pick Josh Simmons has already turned some heads as the new left tackle and Kingsley Suamataia has the inside track on replacing two-time All-Pro Joe Thuney at left guard.

The Chiefs have invested heavily in their offensive line, both in draft capital and financial resources, over the past couple years, and the need to upgrade the left side in particular became evident in their Super Bowl loss in February.

There is also some competition for the final spots at wide receiver, and some different names could get some extended looks with the first-team offense. That’s because Rashee Rice is sidelined with a groin injury and Marquise Brown with an ailing ankle.

“I think (my advice) is go out there and do what they’re doing this camp,” Mahomes said. “It’s going to be a bigger stage going up against another team, but I think Coach Reid prepares us better than anybody else in the league to go out there and play your best football. We practice hard and we practice fast so when it gets to the game, it’s not that huge step up.”

It’s still a substantial one, especially given Arizona is taking the same approach as Kansas City this year.

Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon, who held out quarterback Kyler Murray and others his first two years and barely played any starters in the preseason last year, said this week, “I told them (Monday) night that they are going to play.”

“It’s the best thing for our team this year, honestly,” Gannon explained. “We are at a good point with our health, we’re at a good point with our development, and I think this year with our team it’s the best thing to do for our guys.”

NOTES: Hall of Fame WR Terrell Owens watched the Chiefs practice at Missouri Western on Thursday. He played two seasons for Reid in Philadelphia. “Just watching people grow, I’m in a great position to see that,” Reid said. ... Former Raiders coach Antonio Pierce also has been in camp, helping longtime friend and Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. “Maybe we’ll ask him about some Las Vegas Raiders stuff,” Spagnuolo said with a smile. ... CB Kristian Fulton (knee) came off the PUP list and took part in individual drills Thursday. LB Drue Tranquill (back) also returned to practice.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754683498952.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes greets fans at NFL football training camp Tuesday, July 22, 2025, in St. Joseph, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes greets fans at NFL football training camp Tuesday, July 22, 2025, in St. Joseph, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)</figcaption>
 </figure>ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is glad that coach Andy Reid is sending him onto the field with the rest of their starters when Kansas City visits the Arizona Cardinals for their preseason opener Saturday night.“I don’t necessarily look forward to getting hit,” Mahomes added with a smile Thursday.Getting hit is exactly why some teams have eschewed playing starters at all in the preseason. When coaches finally decided it wasn’t worth the risk to their most valuable players, they began sitting them for one or two games, and last year, teams such as the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles sat them for the entirety of their exhibition slate.That has never been Reid’s preference, though. Nor has it been that of Mahomes, who believes it does him some good to get hit — once, at least — so that he can get into the right mindset for the rest of the preseason and ultimately the regular season.“There’s always a little shock,” Mahomes said.Now, don’t get any misconceptions. The Chiefs might only have those starters on the field for a single series in Arizona, especially if it goes well. But the plan, at least after their final practice before their opener, was that each quarterback will get a full quarter — Mahomes the first, Gardner Minshew the second, Bailey Zappe the third and Chris Oladokun the fourth.The rest of the offense would presumably follow suit.There are certainly things that the three-time defending AFC champions want to see out of their preseason opener. Tops on the list is their new-look offense line, where first-round pick Josh Simmons has already turned some heads as the new left tackle and Kingsley Suamataia has the inside track on replacing two-time All-Pro Joe Thuney at left guard.The Chiefs have invested heavily in their offensive line, both in draft capital and financial resources, over the past couple years, and the need to upgrade the left side in particular became evident in their Super Bowl loss in February.There is also some competition for the final spots at wide receiver, and some different names could get some extended looks with the first-team offense. That’s because Rashee Rice is sidelined with a groin injury and Marquise Brown with an ailing ankle.“I think (my advice) is go out there and do what they’re doing this camp,” Mahomes said. “It’s going to be a bigger stage going up against another team, but I think Coach Reid prepares us better than anybody else in the league to go out there and play your best football. We practice hard and we practice fast so when it gets to the game, it’s not that huge step up.”It’s still a substantial one, especially given Arizona is taking the same approach as Kansas City this year.Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon, who held out quarterback Kyler Murray and others his first two years and barely played any starters in the preseason last year, said this week, “I told them (Monday) night that they are going to play.”“It’s the best thing for our team this year, honestly,” Gannon explained. “We are at a good point with our health, we’re at a good point with our development, and I think this year with our team it’s the best thing to do for our guys.”NOTES: Hall of Fame WR Terrell Owens watched the Chiefs practice at Missouri Western on Thursday. He played two seasons for Reid in Philadelphia. “Just watching people grow, I’m in a great position to see that,” Reid said. ... Former Raiders coach Antonio Pierce also has been in camp, helping longtime friend and Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. “Maybe we’ll ask him about some Las Vegas Raiders stuff,” Spagnuolo said with a smile. ... CB Kristian Fulton (knee) came off the PUP list and took part in individual drills Thursday. LB Drue Tranquill (back) also returned to practice.

🏈 Mahomes, Chiefs starters to play in preseason opener against Cardinals

By GERARD WELLBROCK Hays Post Sports

HAYS, Kan. - Fort Hays State’s second-best rushing offense
in the MIAA last season, which averaged nearly 170 yards per game, was the most
productive ground game since the team’s 2017 MIAA title run.

While All-MIAA running back Shane Watts earned a lot of the
credit, the Tigers' veteran offensive line was a key part of that success.

The 2025 Tigers return three senior starters on the
offensive line: left guard Josh Shaw, center Bradon Kerr and right tackle
Porter Dannevik. All three have at least 18 career starts. They are joined by returning veterans
DeShawn Williams, David Sjoberg, Neville Brown, Dylan Rock and Jacob Mattice,
all of whom have seen playing time.

Shaw, who has started in 26 of his 29 career games, said the
line’s depth is a major strength.

“The depth that we have this year compared to years past, we
can plug and play guys in different spots,” said Shaw, a native of Fairfield,
Nebraska. “There's a lot of us that have gotten a lot of playing time, so it's
almost like we think with one mind out there.”

Shaw earned All-MIAA Third Team honors in 2023 and First
Team recognition last season, but he is still focused on improvement.

“I think just getting myself in the best physical shape, you
know, being mentally tough, pushing through and critiquing myself on the minor
details,” he said. “Just those little things are going to help take me over the
edge.”

The Tigers finished 8-3 last season, just missing the
playoffs, a fact that has motivated Shaw and the team this season.

“Last year wasn't good enough,” Shaw said. “We went 8-3,
which was better than the year before, but still wasn't good enough. We want to
win championships here. We use the fact that we beat the team that got in over
us, and it still wasn't good enough. We use that to motivate us to work
harder.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754595096619.png" alt="FHSU Athletics photo" />
 <figcaption>FHSU Athletics photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By GERARD WELLBROCK Hays Post SportsHAYS, Kan. - Fort Hays State’s second-best rushing offense
in the MIAA last season, which averaged nearly 170 yards per game, was the most
productive ground game since the team’s 2017 MIAA title run.While All-MIAA running back Shane Watts earned a lot of the
credit, the Tigers' veteran offensive line was a key part of that success.The 2025 Tigers return three senior starters on the
offensive line: left guard Josh Shaw, center Bradon Kerr and right tackle
Porter Dannevik. All three have at least 18 career starts. They are joined by returning veterans
DeShawn Williams, David Sjoberg, Neville Brown, Dylan Rock and Jacob Mattice,
all of whom have seen playing time.<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/2149634508&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/fhsu-fb-camp-shaw" title="FHSU FB Camp - Shaw" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">FHSU FB Camp - Shaw</a></div></div>Shaw, who has started in 26 of his 29 career games, said the
line’s depth is a major strength.“The depth that we have this year compared to years past, we
can plug and play guys in different spots,” said Shaw, a native of Fairfield,
Nebraska. “There's a lot of us that have gotten a lot of playing time, so it's
almost like we think with one mind out there.”Shaw earned All-MIAA Third Team honors in 2023 and First
Team recognition last season, but he is still focused on improvement.“I think just getting myself in the best physical shape, you
know, being mentally tough, pushing through and critiquing myself on the minor
details,” he said. “Just those little things are going to help take me over the
edge.”The Tigers finished 8-3 last season, just missing the
playoffs, a fact that has motivated Shaw and the team this season.“Last year wasn't good enough,” Shaw said. “We went 8-3,
which was better than the year before, but still wasn't good enough. We want to
win championships here. We use the fact that we beat the team that got in over
us, and it still wasn't good enough. We use that to motivate us to work
harder.”

🏈 Shaw leads veteran offensive line into 2025 season

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State Men's Soccer will open the 2025 season ranked No. 23 in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 Poll for NCAA Division II. The Tigers are in the Preseason Top 25 Poll for the first time since 2022. The Tigers ended the 2024 season ranked No. 24 in the nation, while the program made its 10th appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

Fort Hays State won the Great American Conference Tournament Championship in 2024, earning the conference's automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. As the No. 10 seed in the national tournament, the Tigers knocked off No. 7 seed Davenport 1-0 in the opening round of the tournament in Super Region 3 and then fell in overtime to No. 2 seed McKendree 3-2. McKendree went on to play in the national semifinals before losing to eventual national champion Lynn University.

Fort Hays State finished the 2024 season with a 13-4-4 record overall. The Tigers return one All-American in midfielder Tadhg Walsh, who led NCAA Division II in assists going into to the NCAA Tournament last year with 15. That broke the single-season record for assists at FHSU, topping the old mark of 14 set by Derick Gonzalez in 2017. Walsh joins Elias Ovelar Semeniuk as returning all-region performers from last year. The pair is also among a group of four returners who earned all-conference honors last year, which includes Bastian Carlman and Jackson Elgas.

Walsh was the team leader in points last year, adding five goals to his 15 assists for 25 points in 2024. Ovelar Semeniuk was the team leader in goals with nine and added three assists, producing 21 points for the season. Carlman had 18 points with eight goals and two assists.

The Tigers have one nationally ranked opponent in their non-conference slate, a September 11 meeting in Hays with No. 3 preseason ranked CSU Pueblo, which joined McKendree as a national semifinalist last year. The Thunderwolves were the national runner-up the two seasons prior (2022, 2023).

In conference play, the Tigers will see preseason No. 20 ranked Rogers State twice, while Southern Nazarene is among the teams receiving votes in the poll.

Below is the 2025 United Soccer Coaches Preseason Top 25 Poll for Men's Soccer in NCAA Division II.

Rank	School	Prev	W-L-T 1	Lynn University	1	20-0-2 2	University of Charleston	2	22-2-1 3	Colorado State University-Pueblo	3	17-4-3 4	McKendree University	4	16-1-7 5	Clayton State University	5	13-4-4 6	Fort Lewis College	6	14-4-6 7	Saginaw Valley State University	7	13-6-2 8	Felician University	8	17-4-2 9	Coker University	9	15-3-1 10	Midwestern State University	10	15-3-3 11	California State University-Los Angeles	11	12-3-6 12	Franklin Pierce University	13	12-3-5 13	University of West Florida	14	12-3-4 14	Tiffin University	15	14-6-1 15	Post University	16	13-5-4 16	University of Findlay	17	12-4-5 17	University of Colorado-Colorado Springs	18	14-3-4 18	Cal Poly Pomona	19	14-2-7 19	Southern New Hampshire University	20	14-2-3 20	Rogers State University	21	9-5-7 21	Auburn University Montgomery	22	11-3-6 22	Western Oregon University	23	14-5-1 23	Fort Hays State University	24	13-4-4 24	California State University-Dominguez Hills	25	10-5-6 25	Converse University	RV	9-1-9

 Receiving Votes: Bloomsburg University, Gannon University, Concord University, Lewis University, Mars Hill University, Maryville University of St. Louis, University of the District of Columbia, Southern Nazarene University, Davenport University, Point Loma Nazarene University, Westmont College, Flagler College, Francis Marion University

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754593313360.jpeg" alt="FHSU Athletics image" />
 <figcaption>FHSU Athletics image</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsKANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State Men's Soccer will open the 2025 season ranked No. 23 in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 Poll for NCAA Division II. The Tigers are in the Preseason Top 25 Poll for the first time since 2022. The Tigers ended the 2024 season ranked No. 24 in the nation, while the program made its 10th appearance in the NCAA Tournament.Fort Hays State won the Great American Conference Tournament Championship in 2024, earning the conference's automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. As the No. 10 seed in the national tournament, the Tigers knocked off No. 7 seed Davenport 1-0 in the opening round of the tournament in Super Region 3 and then fell in overtime to No. 2 seed McKendree 3-2. McKendree went on to play in the national semifinals before losing to eventual national champion Lynn University.Fort Hays State finished the 2024 season with a 13-4-4 record overall. The Tigers return one All-American in midfielder Tadhg Walsh, who led NCAA Division II in assists going into to the NCAA Tournament last year with 15. That broke the single-season record for assists at FHSU, topping the old mark of 14 set by Derick Gonzalez in 2017. Walsh joins Elias Ovelar Semeniuk as returning all-region performers from last year. The pair is also among a group of four returners who earned all-conference honors last year, which includes Bastian Carlman and Jackson Elgas.Walsh was the team leader in points last year, adding five goals to his 15 assists for 25 points in 2024. Ovelar Semeniuk was the team leader in goals with nine and added three assists, producing 21 points for the season. Carlman had 18 points with eight goals and two assists.The Tigers have one nationally ranked opponent in their non-conference slate, a September 11 meeting in Hays with No. 3 preseason ranked CSU Pueblo, which joined McKendree as a national semifinalist last year. The Thunderwolves were the national runner-up the two seasons prior (2022, 2023).In conference play, the Tigers will see preseason No. 20 ranked Rogers State twice, while Southern Nazarene is among the teams receiving votes in the poll.Below is the 2025 United Soccer Coaches Preseason Top 25 Poll for Men's Soccer in NCAA Division II.Rank	School	Prev	W-L-T 1	Lynn University	1	20-0-2 2	University of Charleston	2	22-2-1 3	Colorado State University-Pueblo	3	17-4-3 4	McKendree University	4	16-1-7 5	Clayton State University	5	13-4-4 6	Fort Lewis College	6	14-4-6 7	Saginaw Valley State University	7	13-6-2 8	Felician University	8	17-4-2 9	Coker University	9	15-3-1 10	Midwestern State University	10	15-3-3 11	California State University-Los Angeles	11	12-3-6 12	Franklin Pierce University	13	12-3-5 13	University of West Florida	14	12-3-4 14	Tiffin University	15	14-6-1 15	Post University	16	13-5-4 16	University of Findlay	17	12-4-5 17	University of Colorado-Colorado Springs	18	14-3-4 18	Cal Poly Pomona	19	14-2-7 19	Southern New Hampshire University	20	14-2-3 20	Rogers State University	21	9-5-7 21	Auburn University Montgomery	22	11-3-6 22	Western Oregon University	23	14-5-1 23	Fort Hays State University	24	13-4-4 24	California State University-Dominguez Hills	25	10-5-6 25	Converse University	RV	9-1-9 Receiving Votes: Bloomsburg University, Gannon University, Concord University, Lewis University, Mars Hill University, Maryville University of St. Louis, University of the District of Columbia, Southern Nazarene University, Davenport University, Point Loma Nazarene University, Westmont College, Flagler College, Francis Marion University

⚽ FHSU men open 2025 season ranked No. 23

Thursday, August 7
 none

KAYS - (1400/94.3) KFIX - (96.9) KHAZ - (99.5) KJLS - (103.3) KKQY - (101.9)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Thursday, August 7
 noneFriday, August 8
 KAYS: Kansas City
Royals at Minnesota Twins, 6:30pmSaturday, August 9
 KAYS: Kansas City
Royals at Minnesota Twins, 5:30pm
 KFIX: Kansas City Chiefs at Arizona Cardinals, 6:00pmSunday, August 10
 KAYS: Kansas City
Royals at Minnesota Twins, 12:30pm

OSTON (AP) — Jonathan India hit a three-run homer and Michael Wacha scattered five hits over six innings to help the Kansas City Royals beat the Red Sox 7-3 on Wednesday night, ending Boston’s seven-game winning streak.

Wacha (6-9) allowed two runs while walking none and striking out three to earn his second consecutive victory and help the Royals avoid the three-game sweep.

Boston led 2-0 after one inning but Kansas City took the lead in the fourth on Kyle Isbel's two-run single. India made it 6-2 in the seventh.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/roman-anthony-red-sox-deal-9b86560f41d18e024ad1346643c8653f">Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony</a>&nbsp;was hitless in four at-bats just hours after signing a contract extension that will pay him at least $130 million through 2033. In the fifth inning, he hit a long fly ball that went 394 feet before right fielder Randal Grichuk caught it at the wall.

The Royals had runners on first and second with one out in the sixth when pinch-hitter Randal Grichuk hit a ball to deep center field. Jarren Duran ran it down and caught it, threw it in and second baseman Ceddanne Rafaela took the relay and fired it to first to try to catch John Rave before he got back to the bag.

The problem: No one was covering first. The runners advanced to second and third, but were stranded there.

Boston starter Dustin May (6-8) made his Red Sox debut after being acquired at the trade deadline. He lasted 3 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out four.

The Royals are off on Thursday before a three-game series in Minnesota. Seth Lugo (8-5) will face Joe Ryan (10-5) in the opener.

The Red Sox are off on Thursday before beginning a three-game series with the Padres in San Diego. The rotation will be Walker Buehler (6-6), Lucas Giolito (8-2) and Brayan Bello (8-5).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754533987595.png" alt="Photo Kansas City Royals" />
 <figcaption>Photo Kansas City Royals</figcaption>
 </figure>OSTON (AP) — Jonathan India hit a three-run homer and Michael Wacha scattered five hits over six innings to help the Kansas City Royals beat the Red Sox 7-3 on Wednesday night, ending Boston’s seven-game winning streak.Wacha (6-9) allowed two runs while walking none and striking out three to earn his second consecutive victory and help the Royals avoid the three-game sweep.Boston led 2-0 after one inning but Kansas City took the lead in the fourth on Kyle Isbel's two-run single. India made it 6-2 in the seventh.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/roman-anthony-red-sox-deal-9b86560f41d18e024ad1346643c8653f">Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony</a>&nbsp;was hitless in four at-bats just hours after signing a contract extension that will pay him at least $130 million through 2033. In the fifth inning, he hit a long fly ball that went 394 feet before right fielder Randal Grichuk caught it at the wall.<h2>Key moment</h2>The Royals had runners on first and second with one out in the sixth when pinch-hitter Randal Grichuk hit a ball to deep center field. Jarren Duran ran it down and caught it, threw it in and second baseman Ceddanne Rafaela took the relay and fired it to first to try to catch John Rave before he got back to the bag.The problem: No one was covering first. The runners advanced to second and third, but were stranded there.<h2>Key stat</h2>Boston starter Dustin May (6-8) made his Red Sox debut after being acquired at the trade deadline. He lasted 3 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out four.<h2>Up next</h2>The Royals are off on Thursday before a three-game series in Minnesota. Seth Lugo (8-5) will face Joe Ryan (10-5) in the opener.The Red Sox are off on Thursday before beginning a three-game series with the Padres in San Diego. The rotation will be Walker Buehler (6-6), Lucas Giolito (8-2) and Brayan Bello (8-5).

⚾ Royals end Boston's 7-game win streak as Jonathan India hits 3-run homer 

HAYS, Kan. — The Fort Hays State University football program
has a long tradition of producing standout linebackers. The latest in that
lineage is John Johnson.

Despite missing three games due to injury last season, the
Dodge City native was third on the team in tackles with 63 and was named Second
Team All-MIAA. The season prior, Johnson led the Tigers with 89 tackles, which
was third-most in the MIAA, earning him First Team All-MIAA honors and a D2CCA
All-Super Region 3 Second Team selection.

Johnson believes the experienced defensive line can help
carry the load while the secondary gains more game experience.

"We're aggressive. We all have the same goal, you know,
get to the ball," Johnson said. "We've been working this summer,
we've been executing right, we have a chance to go pretty far."

Johnson's career has been hampered by injuries. After
playing in all 11 games as a freshman, he was limited to just two games his
sophomore year. Following a full 11-game season as a junior in 2023, he missed
three games last season.

Now healthy, Johnson's primary goal is to stay on the field.

"Just staying healthy, that's the biggest goal. I'm an
old guy, you know what I mean. Staying healthy is a big thing," Johnson
said. "The trainers here are awesome, they know what they're doing. I'm
blessed to be able to say I'm healthy."

During the offseason, Johnson focused on improving one
specific area of his game.

"My open-field tackling," he said. "That's
the biggest emphasis I had over the summer. Get that one-on-one in space."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754510701380.jpeg" alt="Fort Hays State linebacker John Johnson runs a play during the Tigers first practice of preseason camp on Monday, August 4, 2025. (FHSU Athletics photo/Ryan Prickett)" />
 <figcaption>Fort Hays State linebacker John Johnson runs a play during the Tigers first practice of preseason camp on Monday, August 4, 2025. (FHSU Athletics photo/Ryan Prickett)</figcaption>
 </figure>By GERARD WELLBROCK Hays Post SportsHAYS, Kan. — The Fort Hays State University football program
has a long tradition of producing standout linebackers. The latest in that
lineage is John Johnson.Despite missing three games due to injury last season, the
Dodge City native was third on the team in tackles with 63 and was named Second
Team All-MIAA. The season prior, Johnson led the Tigers with 89 tackles, which
was third-most in the MIAA, earning him First Team All-MIAA honors and a D2CCA
All-Super Region 3 Second Team selection.<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/2149019967&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/fhsu-fb-camp-johnson" title="FHSU FB Camp - Johnson" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">FHSU FB Camp - Johnson</a></div></div>Johnson believes the experienced defensive line can help
carry the load while the secondary gains more game experience."We're aggressive. We all have the same goal, you know,
get to the ball," Johnson said. "We've been working this summer,
we've been executing right, we have a chance to go pretty far."Johnson's career has been hampered by injuries. After
playing in all 11 games as a freshman, he was limited to just two games his
sophomore year. Following a full 11-game season as a junior in 2023, he missed
three games last season.Now healthy, Johnson's primary goal is to stay on the field."Just staying healthy, that's the biggest goal. I'm an
old guy, you know what I mean. Staying healthy is a big thing," Johnson
said. "The trainers here are awesome, they know what they're doing. I'm
blessed to be able to say I'm healthy."During the offseason, Johnson focused on improving one
specific area of his game."My open-field tackling," he said. "That's
the biggest emphasis I had over the summer. Get that one-on-one in space."

🎧🏈 Johnson overcomes injuries, eyes strong senior season

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports Writer

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) — It's easy to see Travis Kelce making plays on the practice fields of Missouri Western State University these days, whether they be those highlight-reel catches, deft maneuvers in the open field or, yes, the occasional pancake block on a running play.

The thing is that there is less of the Chiefs tight end to see.

Kelce won't exactly cop to it — leave that to Chiefs coach Andy Reid, who called him “svelte” — but the four-time All-Pro trimmed down considerably since the end of last season, when he was last seen walking dejectedly off the turf at the Superdome in New Orleans, the Chiefs having been dismantled by the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl.

The sting of the loss probably had a lot to do with his offseason work.

You see, some questioned whether the 40-22 defeat might drive the nearly 36-year-old Kelce into retirement, especially given the number of off-the-field pursuits vying for his time. There's the TV shows and films, including the new “Happy Gilmore” flick, along with his popular podcast and his celebrity girlfriend, the pop superstar Taylor Swift.

Yet instead of calling it quits, Kelce seemed to redouble his efforts. He used the “New Heights” podcast with his brother, retired Eagles center Jason Kelce, to quickly make it clear that he wasn't going anywhere. Then, apparently, he locked himself in the gym and went to work, trimming down to the kind of shape Kelce was in earlier in his career.

“He's svelte right now. He looks like he's 20,” Reid opined. “He's doing a nice job. He's worked hard to get to this spot here.”

And avoid the spot he found himself in last year.

By almost any measure, the season Kelce had would have been deemed a success. He appeared in 16 regular-season games, caught 97 passes for 823 yards and three scores, and stepped back into a go-to role for the offense when the Chiefs lost wide receivers Marquise Brown and Rashee Rice to injuries for nearly the entire season.

Yet the measure Kelce uses has never been the same used by others. For one thing, the only thing that really matters to him is the Super Bowl, and the Chiefs came up short last season. For another, Kelce is accustomed to 1,000-yard seasons and double-digit touchdown passes, the kinds of numbers that have made him an almost certain first-ballot Hall of Famer.

“You know,” Kelce said Wednesday, after training camp was moved indoors as a storm swept through, “football is the biggest driving forced I've ever had. I love coming out here and focusing on this and trying to get better for another run.”

Kelce has always called Missouri Western his “sanctuary,” where he can get away from distractions and focus on football.

That hasn't changed as he prepares to enter his 13th season.

“You get out here to St. Joe,” Kelce said, "and you're going to training camp, man, it just really signifies like, coming together. The chemistry, the culture that you need to have to keep getting better every single day, every single week throughout the year.

“I think you can really just focus in on your craft,” he said, “and being the best. You care for the guys around you.”

That's evident in the way that Kelce has taken younger players under his guidance. Not just other tight ends, either, but anybody trying to get an edge, whether it be rookie left tackle Josh Simmons or first-year cornerback Nohl Williams.

“Every year he just gets wiser and wiser,” fellow Chiefs tight end Noah Gray said. "Watching him and his practice habits and the way he works always rubs off on us. When you've a leader like that, that continues to lead the room, continues to lead the team, it rubs off on everybody else and it makes a huge difference.”

Kelce balked when he was asked about his fondest training camp memory, given that this could well be his last — “Ask me that when I retire,” he quipped. But there is nevertheless a distinct feeling that Kelce poured himself into his offseason, getting in the best shape he possibly could, so that he would have no regrets as Kansas City pursed another Super Bowl title.

“I mean, we got a long way to go. It's still, I think, close to a month until our first real game,” Kelce said. “We got some time to work on our techniques and test it out on some other teams in preseason. But right now, it's just the work phase, man. I'm not really trying to evaluate anything. We're just all trying to get right, get into football shape, and get mentally tough.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754511024979.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce watches a drill at NFL football training camp Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, in St. Joseph, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce watches a drill at NFL football training camp Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, in St. Joseph, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)</figcaption>
 </figure>By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports WriterST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) — It's easy to see Travis Kelce making plays on the practice fields of Missouri Western State University these days, whether they be those highlight-reel catches, deft maneuvers in the open field or, yes, the occasional pancake block on a running play.The thing is that there is less of the Chiefs tight end to see.Kelce won't exactly cop to it — leave that to Chiefs coach Andy Reid, who called him “svelte” — but the four-time All-Pro trimmed down considerably since the end of last season, when he was last seen walking dejectedly off the turf at the Superdome in New Orleans, the Chiefs having been dismantled by the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl.The sting of the loss probably had a lot to do with his offseason work.You see, some questioned whether the 40-22 defeat might drive the nearly 36-year-old Kelce into retirement, especially given the number of off-the-field pursuits vying for his time. There's the TV shows and films, including the new “Happy Gilmore” flick, along with his popular podcast and his celebrity girlfriend, the pop superstar Taylor Swift.Yet instead of calling it quits, Kelce seemed to redouble his efforts. He used the “New Heights” podcast with his brother, retired Eagles center Jason Kelce, to quickly make it clear that he wasn't going anywhere. Then, apparently, he locked himself in the gym and went to work, trimming down to the kind of shape Kelce was in earlier in his career.“He's svelte right now. He looks like he's 20,” Reid opined. “He's doing a nice job. He's worked hard to get to this spot here.”And avoid the spot he found himself in last year.By almost any measure, the season Kelce had would have been deemed a success. He appeared in 16 regular-season games, caught 97 passes for 823 yards and three scores, and stepped back into a go-to role for the offense when the Chiefs lost wide receivers Marquise Brown and Rashee Rice to injuries for nearly the entire season.Yet the measure Kelce uses has never been the same used by others. For one thing, the only thing that really matters to him is the Super Bowl, and the Chiefs came up short last season. For another, Kelce is accustomed to 1,000-yard seasons and double-digit touchdown passes, the kinds of numbers that have made him an almost certain first-ballot Hall of Famer.“You know,” Kelce said Wednesday, after training camp was moved indoors as a storm swept through, “football is the biggest driving forced I've ever had. I love coming out here and focusing on this and trying to get better for another run.”Kelce has always called Missouri Western his “sanctuary,” where he can get away from distractions and focus on football.That hasn't changed as he prepares to enter his 13th season.“You get out here to St. Joe,” Kelce said, "and you're going to training camp, man, it just really signifies like, coming together. The chemistry, the culture that you need to have to keep getting better every single day, every single week throughout the year.“I think you can really just focus in on your craft,” he said, “and being the best. You care for the guys around you.”That's evident in the way that Kelce has taken younger players under his guidance. Not just other tight ends, either, but anybody trying to get an edge, whether it be rookie left tackle Josh Simmons or first-year cornerback Nohl Williams.“Every year he just gets wiser and wiser,” fellow Chiefs tight end Noah Gray said. "Watching him and his practice habits and the way he works always rubs off on us. When you've a leader like that, that continues to lead the room, continues to lead the team, it rubs off on everybody else and it makes a huge difference.”Kelce balked when he was asked about his fondest training camp memory, given that this could well be his last — “Ask me that when I retire,” he quipped. But there is nevertheless a distinct feeling that Kelce poured himself into his offseason, getting in the best shape he possibly could, so that he would have no regrets as Kansas City pursed another Super Bowl title.“I mean, we got a long way to go. It's still, I think, close to a month until our first real game,” Kelce said. “We got some time to work on our techniques and test it out on some other teams in preseason. But right now, it's just the work phase, man. I'm not really trying to evaluate anything. We're just all trying to get right, get into football shape, and get mentally tough.”

🏈 Travis Kelce's transformation: Chiefs star trims down, gears up for another Super Bowl run

Wednesday, August 6
 KAYS: Kansas City
Royals at Boston Red Sox, 5:30pm

KAYS - (1400/94.3) KFIX - (96.9) KHAZ - (99.5) KJLS - (103.3) KKQY - (101.9)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Wednesday, August 6
 KAYS: Kansas City
Royals at Boston Red Sox, 5:30pmThursday, August 7
 noneFriday, August 8
 KAYS: Kansas City
Royals at Minnesota Twins, 6:30pmSaturday, August 9
 KAYS: Kansas City
Royals at Minnesota Twins, 5:30pm
 KFIX: Kansas City Chiefs at Arizona Cardinals, 6:00pmSunday, August 10
 KAYS: Kansas City
Royals at Minnesota Twins, 12:30pm

BOSTON (AP) — Garrett Crochet scattered four hits over seven innings and Trevor Story hit a blooper into center field to break a sixth-inning tie on Tuesday night and led the Boston Red Sox to their seventh straight win, 6-2 over the Kansas City Royals.

Crochet (13-4) struck out eight to win his ninth consecutive decision and help Boston win for the ninth time in 10 games. Story drove in two runs in the sixth and and added another RBI single in the three-run seventh, when the Red Sox took a 6-2 lead.

Ryan Bergert (1-1) gave up two runs on two hits and two walks, striking out two in 5 2/3 innings. He walked Alex Bregman with two outs in the sixth, then Angel Zerpa came in and gave up a double to Wilyer Abreu before Story lofted one over the second baseman's head to make it 3-1.

The Red Sox loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh on two walks and Jarren Duran's single off the shortstop's glove. Abreu hit a popup that fell between the out-sprinting second baseman and hard-charging right fielder to score two runs, then Story singled in another run to make it 6-2.

Crochet retired the first 10 Royals batters before Bobby Witt Jr. tripled in the fourth and scored on Maikel Garcia’s double. The Red Sox ace allowed just one more hit before Garcia walked to lead off the seventh and then scored on Randal Grichuk’s double off the tip of left fielder Duran’s glove to make it 3-2.

But Crochet struck out Nick Loftin for the second out and then got Luke Maile on a 97 mph fastball to end the inning.

The Red Sox are 13 games above .500 for the first time since the end of the 2021 season.

The teams finish the series and the Red Sox go for their second straight sweep when trade deadline acquisition Dustin May (6-7, 4.85 ERA) makes his Red Sox debut against Kansas City’s Michael Wacha (5-9, 3.38).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754477001124.jpeg" alt="Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Garrett Crochet covers first base on a throw by first baseman Abraham Toro to make the out on Kansas City Royals Vinnie Pasquantino in the sixth inning, Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)" />
 <figcaption>Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Garrett Crochet covers first base on a throw by first baseman Abraham Toro to make the out on Kansas City Royals Vinnie Pasquantino in the sixth inning, Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)</figcaption>
 </figure>BOSTON (AP) — Garrett Crochet scattered four hits over seven innings and Trevor Story hit a blooper into center field to break a sixth-inning tie on Tuesday night and led the Boston Red Sox to their seventh straight win, 6-2 over the Kansas City Royals.Crochet (13-4) struck out eight to win his ninth consecutive decision and help Boston win for the ninth time in 10 games. Story drove in two runs in the sixth and and added another RBI single in the three-run seventh, when the Red Sox took a 6-2 lead.Ryan Bergert (1-1) gave up two runs on two hits and two walks, striking out two in 5 2/3 innings. He walked Alex Bregman with two outs in the sixth, then Angel Zerpa came in and gave up a double to Wilyer Abreu before Story lofted one over the second baseman's head to make it 3-1.The Red Sox loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh on two walks and Jarren Duran's single off the shortstop's glove. Abreu hit a popup that fell between the out-sprinting second baseman and hard-charging right fielder to score two runs, then Story singled in another run to make it 6-2.<h2>Key moment</h2>Crochet retired the first 10 Royals batters before Bobby Witt Jr. tripled in the fourth and scored on Maikel Garcia’s double. The Red Sox ace allowed just one more hit before Garcia walked to lead off the seventh and then scored on Randal Grichuk’s double off the tip of left fielder Duran’s glove to make it 3-2.But Crochet struck out Nick Loftin for the second out and then got Luke Maile on a 97 mph fastball to end the inning.Garcia had two hits for the Royals.<h2>Key stat</h2>The Red Sox are 13 games above .500 for the first time since the end of the 2021 season.<h2>Up next</h2>The teams finish the series and the Red Sox go for their second straight sweep when trade deadline acquisition Dustin May (6-7, 4.85 ERA) makes his Red Sox debut against Kansas City’s Michael Wacha (5-9, 3.38).

⚾ Crochet, Story lead Red Sox to 7th straight win over Royals

HAYS, Kan. — A year ago, Caleb Heavner entered preseason football
camp at Fort Hays State looking to unseat Jack Dawson as the starting
quarterback. Dawson, who had guided the Tigers to a 7-4 record in 2023,
ultimately held on to the job for the first five games of the 2024 season.

Heavner's opportunity came late in the second quarter of a
blowout loss at No. 23 Central Oklahoma. He was named the starter the next week
against No. 12 Central Missouri, a game in which he led the Tigers to a 31-21
victory and remained the starter the rest of the season.

Now, as the Tigers prepare for the 2025 season, Heavner
enters camp as the starting signal-caller. The redshirt junior from Denison,
Texas, said his approach hasn't changed.

"A lot more preparation, honestly, when you go in
knowing you're going to be the guy," Heavner said. "There's a lot
more on your shoulders, and that's the way I want it to be. Nothing changes,
you've got to go to work every day and compete your butt off. Whatever I can do
for this team to win games, whether that's playing or not playing, that's what
I've got to do."

In 2024, Heavner played in 10 games, starting the final six.
He set a new FHSU single-season record by completing 70.1% of his passes (141
of 201) for 1,649 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also rushed for 353 yards and
five touchdowns and was named honorable mention All-MIAA.

FHSU went 5-1 in Heavner’s six starts last season and finished
with an 8-3 overall record, narrowly missing the NCAA Division II playoffs.
This season, he’s aiming to change that.

"We should have made the postseason, I thought we were
definitely a top team in the country," Heavner said. "How do we
eliminate being at the end of the conversation for that? We win. If we come out
and execute and we win, then we don't have anyone make a decision for us; we
make our own decision."

The Tigers have completed two days of fall camp and are
scheduled to practice in helmets, shoulder pads and shorts on Wednesday and
Thursday before moving to full pads on Friday.

FHSU opens the 2025 season at home against defending Lone
Star Conference champion Angelo State on Thursday, Aug. 28, at Lewis Field.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754342791492.jpeg" alt="Fort Hays State quarterback Caleb Heavner runs the ball in the first practice of preseason camp on Monday, August 4, 2025 (FHSU Athletics photo/Ryan Prickett)" />
 <figcaption>Fort Hays State quarterback Caleb Heavner runs the ball in the first practice of preseason camp on Monday, August 4, 2025 (FHSU Athletics photo/Ryan Prickett)</figcaption>
 </figure>By GERARD WELLBROCK Hays Post SportsHAYS, Kan. — A year ago, Caleb Heavner entered preseason football
camp at Fort Hays State looking to unseat Jack Dawson as the starting
quarterback. Dawson, who had guided the Tigers to a 7-4 record in 2023,
ultimately held on to the job for the first five games of the 2024 season.Heavner's opportunity came late in the second quarter of a
blowout loss at No. 23 Central Oklahoma. He was named the starter the next week
against No. 12 Central Missouri, a game in which he led the Tigers to a 31-21
victory and remained the starter the rest of the season.Now, as the Tigers prepare for the 2025 season, Heavner
enters camp as the starting signal-caller. The redshirt junior from Denison,
Texas, said his approach hasn't changed."A lot more preparation, honestly, when you go in
knowing you're going to be the guy," Heavner said. "There's a lot
more on your shoulders, and that's the way I want it to be. Nothing changes,
you've got to go to work every day and compete your butt off. Whatever I can do
for this team to win games, whether that's playing or not playing, that's what
I've got to do."<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/2148459582&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/heavner-camp-25" title="Heavner Camp 25" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Heavner Camp 25</a></div></div>In 2024, Heavner played in 10 games, starting the final six.
He set a new FHSU single-season record by completing 70.1% of his passes (141
of 201) for 1,649 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also rushed for 353 yards and
five touchdowns and was named honorable mention All-MIAA.FHSU went 5-1 in Heavner’s six starts last season and finished
with an 8-3 overall record, narrowly missing the NCAA Division II playoffs.
This season, he’s aiming to change that."We should have made the postseason, I thought we were
definitely a top team in the country," Heavner said. "How do we
eliminate being at the end of the conversation for that? We win. If we come out
and execute and we win, then we don't have anyone make a decision for us; we
make our own decision."The Tigers have completed two days of fall camp and are
scheduled to practice in helmets, shoulder pads and shorts on Wednesday and
Thursday before moving to full pads on Friday.FHSU opens the 2025 season at home against defending Lone
Star Conference champion Angelo State on Thursday, Aug. 28, at Lewis Field.

🎧🏈 Heavner ready to take the reins at FHSU after strong 2024 finish

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) — After watching his Kansas City Chiefs get dismantled by the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl, general manager Brett Veach identified two specific areas where the three-time reigning AFC champions needed to improve.

One was left tackle, where a rotating cast struggled all season to protect Patrick Mahomes. The other was wide receiver, where injuries prevented the Chiefs from ever having the group that they expected to have on the field.

Now, it appears two positions of weakness in February could be positions of strength by the season opener in September.

On the left side of the offensive line, Veach signed Jaylon Moore in free agency, then drafted Josh Simmons in the first round out of Ohio State. He was widely considered to be the most talented tackle prospect available, but a knee injury that robbed Simmons of most of last season also sent his stock falling, and allowed him to fall right into the Chiefs' lap at No. 32 overall.

Three weeks into training camp, not only has Simmons showed no lingering effects of last year's surgery, but he has routinely punished teammates in 1-on-1 drills, and solidified the starting job ahead of Saturday's preseason opener in Arizona.

“He's very talented, man. Very, very good rookie so far,” right tackle Jawaan Taylor said. "He’s been soaking up all the things we’ve been teaching him — Coach (Andy) Heck, the players, the veterans, and I feel like he’s going to have a great career here.”

They haven't had a true franchise left tackle since Eric Fisher left after two Pro Bowls following the 2020 season, and that came back to haunt them, especially against the Eagles in February. Mahomes was sacked six times in the 40-22 Super Bowl loss, and he was forced to throw under duress on at least twice that many plays.

In training camp, Simmons has consistently given Mahomes more time to throw, and that has resulted in the kinds of explosive downfield passing plays that have been absent from the Kansas City offense the past few years.

“First of all, he’s getting a lot of reps, which I think is important for a rookie,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. "He’s been in there and consistently showing up every day and working and not taking plays off or anything like that.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754426844475.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) passes the ball at NFL football training camp Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025, in St. Joseph, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) passes the ball at NFL football training camp Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025, in St. Joseph, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)</figcaption>
 </figure>By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports WriterST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) — After watching his Kansas City Chiefs get dismantled by the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl, general manager Brett Veach identified two specific areas where the three-time reigning AFC champions needed to improve.One was left tackle, where a rotating cast struggled all season to protect Patrick Mahomes. The other was wide receiver, where injuries prevented the Chiefs from ever having the group that they expected to have on the field.Now, it appears two positions of weakness in February could be positions of strength by the season opener in September.On the left side of the offensive line, Veach signed Jaylon Moore in free agency, then drafted Josh Simmons in the first round out of Ohio State. He was widely considered to be the most talented tackle prospect available, but a knee injury that robbed Simmons of most of last season also sent his stock falling, and allowed him to fall right into the Chiefs' lap at No. 32 overall.Three weeks into training camp, not only has Simmons showed no lingering effects of last year's surgery, but he has routinely punished teammates in 1-on-1 drills, and solidified the starting job ahead of Saturday's preseason opener in Arizona.“He's very talented, man. Very, very good rookie so far,” right tackle Jawaan Taylor said. "He’s been soaking up all the things we’ve been teaching him — Coach (Andy) Heck, the players, the veterans, and I feel like he’s going to have a great career here.”The Chiefs need him to have one.They haven't had a true franchise left tackle since Eric Fisher left after two Pro Bowls following the 2020 season, and that came back to haunt them, especially against the Eagles in February. Mahomes was sacked six times in the 40-22 Super Bowl loss, and he was forced to throw under duress on at least twice that many plays.In training camp, Simmons has consistently given Mahomes more time to throw, and that has resulted in the kinds of explosive downfield passing plays that have been absent from the Kansas City offense the past few years.“First of all, he’s getting a lot of reps, which I think is important for a rookie,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. "He’s been in there and consistently showing up every day and working and not taking plays off or anything like that.“But he’s a worker,” Reid continued. "I mean, he’s willing to do it. It’s just a matter of keep on going. But he’s done a nice job with what we’ve asked him. He’s working on all the fundamentals and techniques, so that’s a challenge for him.”At the receiving end of all those downfield throws are not only the wide receivers that Mahomes and Co. expected to have last season but a potentially improved group with the addition of fourth-round pick Jalen Royals.Rashee Rice has shown no issues after a torn knee ligament cost him most of last season, while the shoulder injury that kept Marquise Brown off the field for months has likewise healed. Throw in a year of growth for Xavier Worthy, their first-round pick last year, and the Chiefs' wide receiver group is deeper, faster and more potent than it has been in a while.“Not to take anything away from any receivers that we’ve been with here or anywhere else (but) for me, this collective group of wide receivers from top to bottom is extremely competitive and talented,” Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy said.“I don’t want to take for granted is JuJu Smith-Schuster. Unbelievable right now with what he is doing, as far as a leader in that room,” Nagy added. “Watching guys out here in walkthroughs, he's taking these young guys and using his experience and giving his knowledge to them, and it is exciting because he is a great player. So, from top down we have a lot of speed. The guys have knowledge, they’re smart, they play fast and tough. Now, it is just the timing of Pat.”That timing has been on point so far, thanks in part to the voluntary passing camps that the two-time MVP has run the past few years at his home in Texas. Most of the receivers on the roster show up for at least some of it, and that typically gives them a big jump on training camp, when they begin facing defenders rather than just air.“In order for our offense to be great,” Mahomes said, "you have to be able to complete those passes. It opens up everything else. ... If we can do that, I think it is really going to open up the offense and make us a better team in general.”