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ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — The primary two NFL seasons for Deandre Baker have been a rollercoaster of highs and lows each on and off the sector, however the 23-year-old cornerback is lastly discovering peace in Kansas Metropolis.
“It means rather a lot to me that the Chiefs gave me one other probability at an exceptional group,” Baker stated after observe on Sunday. “I’m simply right here to work, completely satisfied to be right here.”
The No. 30 total decide for the New York Giants within the first spherical of the 2019 NFL Draft, Baker appeared on his strategy to stardom. Following an uneven rookie season, the Miami native discovered himself ensnared in a authorized drama.
On Might 14, 2020, the Miramar, Florida Police Division issued a warrant for the arrest of Baker together with then Seattle Seahawks cornerback Quinton Dunbar on costs of armed theft and aggravated assault. The Giants waived Baker on Sept. 8. Authorities dropped the costs on Nov. 16.
Baker understandably doesn’t need to revisit the episode. He says he realized to “simply concentrate on your environment.”
“It feels good to have that behind me,” Baker stated. “I’m simply wanting ahead to getting higher day by day with my staff and simply completely satisfied to be right here.”
Three days after the costs had been dropped, Baker signed with the Chiefs observe squad and made a fast impression on the teaching employees. He earned game-day elevations from the observe squad 3 times late within the season, together with for a Week 17 begin towards the Los Angeles Chargers. He picked up 5 complete tackles and his first profession NFL sack earlier than catastrophe struck.
Baker suffered a fractured femur, an harm that ended his season and saved him on the sidelines for the staff’s offseason exercises.”
“The toughest half was not being on the market with the staff, serving to the fellows get higher and training, with the ability to assist the staff,” Baker stated. “The most effective half was being again on the market now, again on my ft. I can run and do issues I wasn’t capable of do a few months in the past.”
Now Baker says he feels “fairly near 100%” and able to compete for a spot on the staff’s cornerback depth chart. L’Jarius Sneed, Charvarius Ward and Rashad Fenton enter coaching camp because the membership’s main candidates at nook however the Chiefs are excited to see what Baker can do as soon as he’s totally wholesome.
Security Juan Thornhill says he’s been impressed with Baker on this weekend’s minicamp exercises.
“It was identical to it was consuming him alive sitting there watching,” Thornhill stated of Baker sitting out OTAs whereas rehabbing. “However watching him out right here, he’s been doing a heck of a job. He’s been getting his legs shifting, he seems to be fairly good to me.”
Baker has one easy objective for himself heading into coaching camp.
“I simply need to assist the staff and present the fellows that I need to be right here, come on the market and work and present them that I should be right here.”
Camp Observations
Amidst an extreme warmth warning in St. Joseph, Mom Nature offered the Chiefs a reprieve with overcast skies and the temperature topping out at 78 levels. That served as a much-needed break after a steamy opening session on Saturday left many gamers gassed.
The 95-minute session opened with “Tell the Vision” offering the soundtrack for the strengthening interval however in any other case, it was a quiet educational interval on the sector. Gamers went by place drills and an set up interval adopted by two separate seven-on-seven classes and wrapping up with a particular groups interval.
That is largely a passing camp because the roster solely helps seven-on-seven drills. Gamers can’t put on pads both, so there is no such thing as a contact allowed. Offensive linemen and defensive linemen and work with their place teams when quarterbacks, cross catchers, linebackers and defensive backs conduct seven-on-seven intervals.
This minicamp additionally serves as an acclimation interval for gamers, permitting quarterbacks to work on their timing and veterans getting back from accidents to stand up to observe pace.
For the rookies, nonetheless, the minicamp permits them to get a refresher course after their 16 offseason exercises in Might and June. Defensive finish Joshua Kaindoh stated defensive position coach Brendan Daly has been specializing in the basics.
“Arms, hips, ft and know my playbook,” Kaindoh stated. “Simply understanding little stuff like that, understanding the place to be, what to do.”
NOTES: First-year working again Derrick Gore is getting loads of work as the one working again within the minicamp, and he’s displayed good arms and receiving expertise. … Linebacker Nick Bolton has spent a lot of the camp engaged on cross protection and exhibits good motion dropping again into protection. … Tight finish Noah Grey has demonstrated a capability to raise for prime throws and likewise has made a number of powerful contested catches in visitors. … Patrick Mahomes was an enormous rusty on Saturday however delivered a 7-of-7 efficiency on Sunday, together with a crimson zone landing throw to Grey.
Offensive play of the day: Backup quarterback Chad Henne continues wanting sharp early in camp, and the play that drew the loudest response of the day got here in the course of the crimson zone seven-on-seven interval. Henne delivered a again shoulder bullet to the left sideline in the long run zone and rookie Cornell Powell turned to make an incredible catch in tight protection.
Defensive play of the day: Undrafted rookie cornerback Marlon Character almost pulled off a surprising interception in breaking apart a cross from quarterback Shane Buechele. Character skied to get one hand on a ball thrown over his head and appeared like he would possibly put the ball away for a decide.
Participant of the day: Exhausting to not give this honor to Henne for a second day in a row.
I really feel like not having OTAs (final yr), that bothered me due to the actual fact I wasn’t round lots of the fellows. I used to be combating that battle alone. Identical to you tear your ACL, you’re feeling such as you’re by your self. You need to see the fellows that within the locker as a result of you should have somebody to encompass you to speak to them and elevate you up generally. I didn’t have that, however with this yr, I had guys all the time round me, simply to joke round within the locker room and have enjoyable, after which I may watching soccer. Regardless that I wasn’t taking part, I used to be on the market watching, giving my calls and speaking with coach Spags. That also allowed me to maintain up with my sport.
— Security Juan Thornhill on variations between 2020 and 2021 offseasons
Harm Report
Fortson went down within the again finish zone throughout seven-on-seven drills and limped off the sector, later receiving remedy on the sideline from Rick Burkholder, the staff’s vice chairman of sports activities drugs and efficiency. Fortson returned to the sector later in observe, nonetheless, participating within the particular groups interval.
Large receiver Chris Finke left the sector close to the top of the seven-on-seven interval for an analysis within the medical tent and later rode again within the entrance seat of the cart to the locker room. The staff didn’t present an instantaneous replace on his harm.
On Saturday the Chiefs placed security Armani Watts on the bodily unable to carry out checklist and defensive finish Malik Herring on the non-football harm checklist. Each gamers nonetheless rely towards the 90-man lively roster.
Quantity change
Herring appeared on the sidelines at observe Sunday sporting No. 70. He was initially assigned No. 97 throughout rookie minicamp.
That transfer would sign that veteran defensive finish Alex Okafor will reclaim No. 97 when he returns to the active roster. Okafor wore No. 97 in the course of the 2019 season with the Chiefs earlier than switching final season to No. 57, the quantity he wore with each the Saints and Cardinals. No. 57 now belongs to sort out Orlando Brown Jr.
What’s Subsequent?
It’s another fast closed observe for rookies, quarterbacks and injured gamers on Monday morning. Veterans don’t usually attend the ultimate day of the minicamp, so solely the rookies count on to be on the sector tomorrow.
The staff together with Missouri Western State College and Mosaic Life Care host a press convention at 11:30 a.m. Monday to formally open coaching camp. The remaining veteran gamers on the roster are on account of arrive within the afternoon.
Gamers begin their acclimation interval on Tuesday with power and conditioning exams, following by the primary public observe at 9:15 a.m. on July 28 open solely to season ticket members. The primary observe open to the general public kicks off at 9:15 a.m. on July 29. As a reminder, followers attending coaching camp should reserve tickets upfront on the team’s website.
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