08/04/26 12:30:00
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08/04 12:28 CDT Chiefs' Bieniemy checks in at camp as wife's shooting leaves
offensive coordinator's return unclear
Chiefs' Bieniemy checks in at camp as wife's shooting leaves offensive
coordinator's return unclear
By DAVE SKRETTA
AP Sports Writer
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) --- Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy
has been checking in more frequently with the team during training camp, but it
remains unclear when he will return to the coaching staff following the
shooting of his wife at their Virginia home.
Bieniemy's son, Elijah Bieniemy, has been arrested in connection with the
shooting of his mother, Mia. He has been charged with malicious wounding, use
of a firearm in commission of a felony and discharge of a firearm inside a
dwelling, but court appearances for the 27-year-old Bieniemy have been delayed
pending a mental health evaluation.
Mia Bieniemy's condition has been improving, Chiefs coach Andy Reid said this
week.
"It was great to hear from him just from a personal standpoint. You were just
so devastated for him," Chiefs pass game coordinator Joe Bleymaier, who has
assumed many of Bieniemy's duties, said Tuesday. "He has been reaching out more
and more lately for the football stuff and that's brought a sense of normalcy
to our team, hearing from him and his thoughts on football."
Bieniemy returned to the Chiefs earlier this year, after leaving to serve as
offensive coordinator with the Commanders and spending a season apiece with
UCLA and the Chicago Bears. He replaced Matt Nagy, who is now the offensive
coordinator with the Giants.
The reason the Chiefs were eager to get Bieniemy back in the building was
twofold: He has an intimate knowledge of the Kansas City offense, having helped
the franchise reach three Super Bowls and win two, and he carries along a
certain no-nonsense attitude that the Chiefs desperately needed after slipping
to a disappointing 6-11 finish last season.
"We'll hold it down and when (Bieniemy) gets back, we'll be ready to have that
intensity and energy. That's what I love most about him," said Chiefs running
back Kenneth Walker III, the reigning Super Bowl MVP and one of their big
free-agent acquisitions.
"You can't take a play off," Walker said, "because he's going to say something
to you about it."
Bleymaier, who is widely considered a rising star in the coaching profession,
has a much quieter personality. But he joked Tuesday that he had lost his voice
during practice, so perhaps some of Bieniemy's vocal traits have worn off on
him.
"The guys want to be held accountable. They want someone to remind them what to
do and not let anything slide," Bleymaier said. "That's the role of the
coordinator and that's the role of whoever is put in that position, to
constantly uphold that standard."
In other news Tuesday, the Chiefs continued with their second padded practice
of camp at Missouri Western, and quarterback Patrick Mahomes once again worked
out in full after undergoing surgery less than eight months ago to repair torn
knee ligaments.
Mahomes has been wearing a brace on the left knee, but otherwise it's been hard
to notice anything different about him.
"You hate to say that anything Patrick does surprises you," Bleymaier said,
"because he's always pushing the limits of what he can do with the football,
and the recovery timetable from just the injuries that he's had. But
physically, I haven't seen anything with the knee out on the field that would
show any setbacks. Just nonexistent, any sort of knee issues, which has been
incredible."
Notes: Undrafted rookie RT Kahlil Benson continued to get first-team reps on
Tuesday. He's been one of the biggest surprises of camp. ... WRs Cyrus Allen
(bruised shin) and Xavier Worthy (sore shoulder) did not practice. DL Ashton
Gillotte (hamstring strain) also sat out the workout. ... First-round pick CB
Mansoor Delane (shoulder) continued to practice in a yellow no-contact jersey.
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