Chiefs rookie Allen avoids serious injury after training camp collision

The Kansas City Chiefs got a scare during Saturday's training camp when rookie wide receiver Cyrus Allen collided with defensive back Kaiir Elam during a special teams drill, but medical tests that followed offered relief: the injury was limited to a shin bruise, with no fracture or tear detected.

Allen was working as a gunner during a pooch punt period when he and Elam, both lined up to track the ball near the goal line, ran into each other. Elam got to his feet and walked away. Allen remained on the ground. Two staff members eventually helped him onto a cart, and he covered his face with his jersey as he was removed from the field.

The collision came at an awkward moment in Allen's training camp arc. The fifth-round draft pick had made an immediate impression on the offense, leading Kansas City's receivers in catches during 11-on-11 drills and establishing himself as a reliable target for Patrick Mahomes. Special teams coordinator Dave Toub had noticed the work too. "He's really doing well on offense, and he's doing well for me too," Toub said. "He's at gunner and returner, and he's doing a real good job, putting himself in a good position to be a guy that's going to help us this year." Toub acknowledged the frustration of seeing a player go down in a non-game situation. "I hate to see somebody get hurt, especially on a special teams drill," he said.

The coordinator also explained the reality of rookie life in the NFL. Every rookie, regardless of draft position or offensive talent, is expected to contribute on special teams until they establish themselves as starters elsewhere. "Anytime you have a rookie, everybody is on special teams until they aren't, until they establish themselves, whether it's a starter on offense or defense," Toub said.

Allen was not the only receiver to have a worrying moment Saturday. Xavier Worthy went down during an 11-on-11 period after catching a deep pass near the end zone and landing on his shoulder. For Worthy, the incident carried extra weight. He had injured his right shoulder on the third snap of last season during a game against Los Angeles when he collided with tight end Travis Kelce on a crossing route. That injury required offseason surgery. Now, early in his second training camp, he was dealing with shoulder concerns again.

The Allen injury, while initially frightening, appears to have resolved into something manageable. Whether he returns to full participation quickly, and whether Worthy's shoulder proves to be merely precautionary or something more serious, will become clearer in the coming days. For now, the Chiefs have dodged what could have been a significant setback to their receiving corps during a critical phase of preparation.