Tershawn Wharton Returns to Chiefs Training Camp Practice From PUP List

Wharton is officially back at practice with the Chiefs for the first time since his Week 5 ACL injury in 2022.

The Kansas City Chiefs have dealt with their fair share of injuries thus far in training camp, but help is arriving. A familiar face returned to the practice field at Missouri Western State University after missing time stemming from an injury suffered last year.

Defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton got some work in — albeit not in a full capacity and with a brace on his left leg — on Wednesday morning. This marked the first time the veteran interior defensive lineman participated in on-field football activities since he suffered a torn ACL in Week 5 of the 2022-23 season. It also means that Wharton is no longer on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, which he was placed on at the beginning of camp.

#Chiefs DT Tershawn Wharton is in pads and looks ready to go walking down the hill for practice today.

Much needed help coming to the interior. pic.twitter.com/E84tT0tjvg

— PJ Green (@ByPJGreen) August 2, 2023

Wharton, who signed with the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent out of Missouri S&T back in 2020, is entering his fourth year with the team. The 25-year-old was re-signed to Kansas City on a one-year deal earlier this offseason at the beginning of his restricted free agency, allowing the team to closely monitor his progress in rehab over the ensuing several months. Now off of PUP but still working his way back to full strength, Wharton will be allowed to get reacclimated on the field and see how he fares in the coming weeks.

In 38 regular-season games, Wharton has five sacks and 64 tackles (five for loss) with 10 quarterback hits. The defensive end turned defensive tackle has logged 1,169 defensive snaps for Steve Spagnuolo in three seasons, and he has another 111 on Dave Toub's special teams unit. While Wharton isn't out of the woods yet as far as Week 1 is concerned, this is a positive step for both him and the Chiefs as they work together to get him ready for the games that matter.

Andy Reid says the Chiefs need to take things slow with DT Tershawn Wharton (knee).

Team is going to keep an open line of communication with him and go day-by-day with monitoring his workload/progress.

— Jordan Foote (@footenoted) August 2, 2023

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