Chiefs, Patrick Mahomes Talk Eagles' Defense, Receivers, and More

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – A whip around Kansas City Chiefs’ media availability on Wednesday morning at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch…

The Chiefs’ splendid free safety, Juan Thornhill, who has eight interceptions after four seasons in the league, made a couple of comparisons when asked about Eagles WRs A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith.

On Brown: “I have a good comparison for A.J. and that would probably be his former teammate (at Mississippi), DK Metcalf. They’re both strong guys. They know how to create separation and go up and get the ball.”

On Smith: “I don’t really know anyone that’s like him, but I would say maybe (Brandon) Aiyuk from San Fran. DeVonta is small but the guy can play ball. I don’t look at the size. His size will trick you. You think he’s small then all of a sudden, he’ll blow by you and he has a really good catch radius as well.”

CREED

It’s a first name that would have probably fit in well in Philadelphia. It’s not Rocky, but Creed Humphrey isn’t half-bad since Apollo Creed and Rocky teamed up in one of the many Rocky sequels.

“My parents have never given me a clear answer on that,” the Chiefs center said when asked about his unique name. “I don’t know if it’s Apollo Creed or the band Creed or Credence Clearwater Revival. I’ve tried to get it from them, but they’ve never given me a clear answer.”

Humphrey was taken 63rd overall in the 2021 NFL Draft out of Oklahoma, 26 spots after the Eagles took Landon Dickerson.

There were some mock drafts that had the Eagles taking Humphrey, especially since he had been Jalen Hurts’ center for one season at Oklahoma.

Humphrey was drafted and immediately plugged into the starting lineup and has started all 34 games since arriving in the league.

Asked about Hurts, Humphrey talked about the QB’s leadership

“I have a ton of admiration for Jalen,” he said. “I’m really happy to see him do well right now. It’s been cool to see him grow as a player these past couple years.

“He’s one of those guys it’s easy to gravitate towards because of his work ethic and his will to succeed, his want to succeed.”

Humphrey said he patterned parts of his game off Eagles center Jason Kelce.

“I’ve gotten to watch him a ton on film,” he said. “Gotta really big appreciation for his game. He’s one of the best to ever do it as his position. It’s been really cool. I started breaking him down watching in college.

“That’s where I started taking stuff from his game. For me, second-level blocking shows what he can really do. I’ve taken a lot of that, then seeing how he works on screens, things like that.”

“YOUNG” MAHOMES

Kansas City’s QB was asked if Jalen Hurts reminds him of a younger version of himself.

“I’m not that old,” he said. “I think the best thing about Jalen is the way he works. He goes to work every single day, and you can see it. He gets better and better every single year. And that’s what we’re all striving to do is get better and better. I’m better than I was when I was at that point in my career.

“You can see how those guys follow him. They follow him, and they’ll do whatever they can to help that guy succeed. It’ll be a great game. Obviously, he can do all the physical stuff. He can run and he can throw and do a lot of different types of stuff. But the work ethic is what will get you through, and I think that he’s in the top tier in that.”

Mahomes said his ankle is “in a better spot” and he’s moving around better now than two weeks ago when he suffered the sprain.

“You won’t really know until you get to game day,” he said. “…we’ll see on game day how close to 100% I’ll be.”

Mahomes also talked about the Eagles’ defense and what makes them so good.

“They’re great everywhere,” he said. “It’s hard to pick one. I’d probably say the defensive line because they’re on an historic sack rate. And the way they’re able to get to the quarterback.

“Everybody knows that everything starts up front. So that’ll be a great challenge for our offensive line to try to do what they can in the run game and pass game of protecting and run-blocking. But they got great DBs, great linebackers.”

Ed Kracz is the publisher of SI.com’s Fan Nation Eagles Today and co-host of the Eagles Unfiltered Podcast. Check out the latest Eagles news at www.SI.com/NFL/Eagles or www.eaglesmaven.com and please follow him on Twitter: @kracze.