Kansas City Chiefs WR Richie James had good week of practice, but this play stands out

Wide receiver Richie James took a toss from Patrick Mahomes, and we know the flip was thrown behind James because of what happened next.

The left-handed James launched a deep pass to fellow Chiefs wideout Marquez Valdez-Scantling, who caught the football in stride. The double-pass served as the highlight play of Wednesday’s training camp practice at Missouri Western.

James, whose one-year contract with the Chiefs is worth $1.2 million, played quarterback in high school and it showed on that play. Add another imagination-stretching possibility to the playbook.

But it’s James’ receiving skills that deservedly are getting the most attention as the first full-squad week of practice winds down. The buzz surrounding James during the Chiefs’ organized team activities has carried into training camp: He’s a smooth route-runner with good hands.

He’s also proven to be a quick study of what can be a complicated offense.

“I’m pretty comfortable,” James said. “I’ve been in the league for a while now (with) a chance to play in different offenses. Some things are familiar (here), some not. It’s going to get more comfortable as we go along in camp.”

James dispelled the notion that he got a head start in Kansas City having played for New York Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka last season. Kafka had previously served on the Chiefs’ staff.

The similarity between the two NFL offenses is “10 percent,” James said.

“There’s so much going on with this offense,” he noted. “So many moving pieces.”

James has made a fan of at least one of his Chiefs teammates.

“Richie is my favorite receiver,” fellow wideout and second-year pro Skyy Moore said. “I like how he moves. He does the stuff that I think I’m doing, but he does them a little different.”

The Chiefs are seeking a continued upward trend from James. A seventh-round pick by the San Francisco 49ers in 2018 out of Middle Tennessee State, he caught 38 passes in three years, making more contributions as a return specialist.

Then, for the Giants last season, he hauled in 57 receptions — more than the best season of any other receiver currently on the Chiefs’ roster. That certainly caught the Chiefs’ attention, but general manager Brett Veach said KC attempted to trade for James when he was with the 49ers.

This week, James has been taking reps with the Chiefs’ first-team receivers The position group has been reduced by the injury absence of Kadarius Toney.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid said he hoped to have Toney back for the season opener against Detroit, but plenty of opportunity remains for James (and others) as the team looks to replace JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman, both of whom departed during free agency.

Even with Toney out, the Chiefs’ relative depth at wide receiver has revealed itself early in camp. Valdez-Scantling, Moore, Justin Watson, rookie Rashee Rice, Justyn Ross, Cornell Powell and John Ross all had good moments this week.

But James may have stacked the most.

“Some of these wideouts, you know when they have a feel and they know the timing with the quarterback,” Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy said when asked about James specifically. “They understand the defense. They know when to speed up their route. They know when to slow down their route. They know how to play in zone.

“He’s got that. You also have to have that confidence. I’m excited to see what he does this preseason.”