SportsBeat KC
Real evaluations begin when pads come on. Who’s looking good for the Chiefs?
Chiefs training camp doesn’t really begin until the pads come on. It’s the first time to evaluate linemen and most defensive players. So who’s looking good?
Chiefs insider Pete Sweeney and columnists Sam McDowell and Vahe Gregorian break down what they’ve seen at camp on SportsBeat KC, the sports podcast of The Star and KCUR (89.3 FM).
Tackle Josh Simmons and rookie defensive lineman Peter Woods have made solid early impressions, but injuries to receivers Xavier Worthy and Cyrus Allen have put a damper on things.
Also, the baseball trade deadline has come and gone. How did the Royals do? Stick around and I’ll tell you what’s on my radar in Kansas City sports.
SportsBeat KC is the sports podcast of The Kansas City Star and KCUR, hosted by Blair Kerkhoff. It’s produced by Hannah Wise, Suzanne Hogan, and Gabriella Lacey, and edited by Jeff Rosen and Scott Chasen.
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SportsBeat KC
How running back Kenneth Walker III could change everything for the Chiefs
On the first play of the season for the Chiefs’ offense, Patrick Mahomes handed the ball off to running back Kenneth Walker III. And the second, third and fourth, with Andy Reid establishing the team’s intent from the outset. It worked. Walker rushed for 173 yards, including a 60-yard touchdown, and the Chiefs rolled past the Denver Broncos 31-10 in a resounding season opener. On SportsBeat KC, the sports podcast of The Star and KCUR (89.3), columnists Sam McDowell and Vahe Gregorian and Chiefs insider Pete Sweeney break down what went right, from Walker to the pressure defense, from Andy Reid’s play calling to the encouraging play of several rookies. This strong first impression may have reshaped how we look at the AFC West race and the Chiefs’ Super Bowl chances. SportsBeat KC is the sports podcast of The Kansas City Star and KCUR, hosted by Blair Kerkhoff. It’s produced by Hannah Wise, Suzanne Hogan, and Seth Jahraus, and edited by Jeff Rosen and Scott Chasen.
SportsBeat KC
The Chiefs won’t start the 2026 season at full strength. Is that a problem?
A new season for the Chiefs has arrived. The season opener against the Denver Broncos is set for “Monday Night Football” at Arrowhead Stadium, and get ready for Patrick Mahomes’ first game since suffering a knee injury late last season. For the first time in a decade, the Chiefs aren’t coming off a playoff year, but the season is full of promise, if not a clean bill of health. Tackle Josh Simmons and safety Chamarri Conner are likely to miss the opener. On SportsBeat KC, the sports podcast of The Star and KCUR, beat writer Pete Sweeney and columnists Sam McDowell and Vahe Gregorian describe what they expect from the Chiefs in the opening game and this season. Also, I tell you what’s on my radar in Kansas City sports this week, starting with a college football rivalry with deep roots. SportsBeat KC is the sports podcast of The Kansas City Star and KCUR, hosted by Blair Kerkhoff. It’s produced by Hannah Wise, Suzanne Hogan, and edited by Jeff Rosen and Scott Chasen.
SportsBeat KC
As college football begins, who has the best injunction game? Our latest podcast
As we approach Week 1 of the college football season, eligibility remains a major topic. Used to be, these things were settled long before the season began, but as Missouri Tigers coach Eli Drinkwitz said last week, the eligibility system is an “absolute embarrassment” and a “complete clown show” as players are using the courtrooms to get injunctions to play. On the field, the 2026 season arrives this week, too, with the Tigers, Kansas State and Kansas all opening at home. Star columnists Vahe Gregorian and Sam McDowell preview the season and try to make sense of what’s happening with the sport. Also, actor Brendan Hunt discusses his role as Coach Beard on the popular TV series “Ted Lasso.” Hunt was in town recently to accept an award on behalf of Ted Lasso star Jason Sudeikis and shared thoughts on his career and filming this season’s first episode in Kansas City. Then, Chiefs beat writer Pete Sweeney breaks down the team’s cuts and waiver-wire acquisitions to finalize a 53-man roster ahead of KC’s Sept. 14 opener against the Denver Broncos. SportsBeat KC is the sports podcast of The Kansas City Star and KCUR, hosted by Blair Kerkhoff. It’s produced by Hannah Wise, Suzanne Hogan, and Gabriella Lacey, and edited by Jeff Rosen and Scott Chasen.
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