Andy Reid Provides Major Injury Update on Nazeeh Johnson
As the Kansas City Chiefs' weekend comes to a close at training camp in St. Joseph, MO, things are also beginning to come into focus on the injury front. Unfortunately, that hasn't come with a bunch of good news attached. Defensive back Nazeeh Johnson suffered a knee injury in Saturday morning's practice, and that was the major focus health-wise heading into Sunday.
Following practice to end the weekend, head coach Andy Reid provided an update on Kansas City's injury report. Johnson suffered a torn ACL, likely ending his 2023-24 season before it even began:
"Yeah, Nazeeh was playing good football," Reid said. "We've got some other guys that can play there, but he's a good special teams player and he's a good corner. He's really developed over the years. It's too bad that it happened. He's got a good attitude about it, and he'll get back when he can get back."
Johnson, who was selected by the Chiefs in the seventh round of last year's NFL Draft, played in 11 regular-season games as a rookie and was on the field for 96 special teams snaps. That total was 39 over the course of the team's playoff run, and special teams coordinator Dave Toub openly admitted earlier this summer that the Marshall product would possibly be the team's top gunner this coming season. Reid's confidence in other players to step up, though, signals that the Chiefs are in good hands even with Johnson going on the injured reserve list.
Also going on IR for Kansas City is linebacker Isaiah Moore. Moore, an undrafted rookie free agent signing from the spring, has missed time at training camp with a lingering knee injury. Reid says the ailment will require surgery to correct. Elsewhere, Reid was optimistic about tight end Jody Fortson using camp time to recover from a shoulder injury suffered on Friday morning.
Defensive end Mike Danna continues to work his way back from a calf injury from Friday, and wide receiver Kadarius Toney was said by Reid to be making progress in his rehab from a meniscus repair. Running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire was out on Sunday with an illness.