Wide Receivers Down and Out

By Tony Black Chiefs Beat Writer Date: Aug 5, 2004

Injuries were the story yesterday in River Falls, Wisconsin, as three of Trent Green’s targets continue to sit out.

Wide receiver Johnnie Morton injured Achilles tendon kept him out of practice again. He had an MRI and it showed inflammation and he could be out for another four or five days. Receiver Eddie Kennison remains sidelined with a sore wrist and his progress is slow. Tony Gonzalez continues to practice only once a day to give his foot a rest. Don't look for Gonzalez to participate in both practice sessions anytime soon.

As mentioned yesterday, Marc Boerigter is limited due to a strained shoulder and he is not expected back on the practice field until next week at the earliest. In fact, it’s doubtful any of the banged up receivers will play in the scrimmage this weekend with the Vikings. It’s even more remote that they’ll be suited up for the first exhibition game next Friday against the New York Giants.

To help rest the injuries the team will not practice until 4:30 today; special teams will take the field in the morning. Head coach Dick Vermeil rested his Priest Holmes on Tuesday but he was back at practice on Wednesday participating in both sessions.

Vermeil, who had a pretty good running back in St. Louis, named Marshall Faulk, knows when to rest an All-Pro player. Holmes has had 960 carries as part of the Kansas City Chiefs and 1,419 in his career.

Holmes in the off season contemplated the possibility of retirement. During his days at the University of Texas, Holmes would see what the NFL could do to a body when the great Earl Campbell would come to campus.

"We would see the condition (Campbell) was in, and it made you wonder as a running back if you could end up the same way," Holmes explained to the Topeka Capital Journal.