Kansas City Chiefs stars have returned to practice after Thursday’s session was postponed in the wake of BJ Thompson’s cardiac arrest. According to Tom Pelissero, Thompson is now ‘awake and responsive’ in hospital after suffering a seizure in a special teams meeting and going into a cardiac arrest. The likes of Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce were therefore able to get back out on the grass to complete their last day of OTAs on Friday as their teammate continues to recover.
Mecole Hardman Jnr was also seen again in his No 17 jersey after re-signing with Kansas City on a one-year deal this week. But there was no sign of Xavier Worthy as he works his way back to fitness from a hamstring problem.
Kansas City postponed Thursday’s session after BJ Thompson (pictured) had a cardiac arrest
After visiting his client, Thompson’s agent Christ Turnage reported on Thursday that the Chiefs’ defensive end was unconscious but in stable condition. Turnage then told Pelissero on Friday that the NFL player is now responsive and his prognosis is good.
Pelissero also reported the news of Thompson’s seizure on Thursday morning. ‘The Chiefs canceled all team activities today after a backup defensive lineman had a seizure in a special teams meeting and went into cardiac arrest, per sources,’ Pelissero wrote on X. ‘The team’s medical staff worked quickly, an ambulance was called and the player is currently in stable condition.’
With Thompson in stable condition, the Chiefs pushed through with a charity softball event on Thursday evening. Justin Reid and Trey Smith hosted the second annual Kansas City charity softball game, formerly organized by Marquez Valdes-Scantling – who was traded to the Buffalo Bills this offseason. Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo was the first to speak out on Thompson’s condition after his cardiac arrest on Thursday.
Last day of #Chiefs OTAs… Xavier Worthy still not participating.. Mecole Hardman is back with #17..
Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce are in attendance.. pic.twitter.com/LJhqqup0er
— PJ Green (@ByPJGreen) June 7, 2024
Kansas City’s defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo spoke out on his condition Thursday
‘Let me say this before I say anything, I’m thinking about BJ right now,’ Spagnuolo volunteered before taking questions from reporters, via Fox4KC. ‘It was scary. I think the guys were a little bit scared, I know I was. But a lot of praying and [head athletic trainer] Rick [Burkholder] and his staff did a terrific job.’
He added that he wasn’t in the room when it happened due to it taking place during a special teams meeting but praised the staff who stepped in to help. ‘But everybody you know, to a man to a person to a woman, because we have some female trainers, they were terrific, they did a great job. So we’ll keep our fingers crossed. I’ll let Andy handle the rest of that.’
