The Sports Xchange

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs were treated to a quick dose of what newly acquired wide receiver Jeremy Maclin is all about during his first OTA practice this week.

A pass from quarterback Alex Smith to Maclin was just a bit overthrown, but the receiver went horizontal and made a diving attempt to make the catch. That’s not something usually seen from veteran receivers in offseason sessions.

“You try to stay off the ground,” Maclin said. “But when you see that ball in the air, it’s a different story.”

Coming off the best season of his career last year with the Eagles, Maclin signed a five-year contract with the Chiefs and immediately became the club’s No. 1 receiver when Dwayne Bowe was released. That has made the OTA sessions important for the immediate future of the Kansas City passing game and Maclin.

“I think just the chemistry with Alex (Smith) … I think that’s the number one thing and what we’re looking forward to doing,” Maclin said. “I don’t think you can judge it by completed balls. I think it’s all about getting to know each other and getting our timing down. I think we’ve gotten off to a pretty good start doing that.

“This is what it’s all about right now; it’s all about perfecting the timing.”

–Coming off February knee surgery, outside linebacker Tamba Hali has shown no limitations as he runs around the practice field during the first week of OTA sessions with the Chiefs. Although he did not miss a game in 2014, Hali battled knee problems all season. The arthroscopic procedure removed loose cartilage.

“It feels good,” Hali said. “I’m glad to get out here and cut on it, run on it.”

Hali is missing his teammate and friend, fellow linebacker Justin Houston. For the second straight offseason, Houston decided to stay away from team activities as he continues without a long-term contract with the Chiefs. The club tied up the NFL sack leader with the franchise player tag in March.

“Every two or three weeks we talk,” Hali said of Houston. “He’s working his tail off. Like any player, he wants to be here, but again we know our league is a business and you have to allow that business to work itself out. He wants to be here; he’s missing it.”

— After a season filled with injuries in 2014, Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles is running around the practice field in the first week of OTAs like he’s 18 years old again. OK, maybe not that young.

“I feel like I am 20, 21,” the 28-year old Charles said. “I feel healthy. I eat right. I take vitamins. I do yoga. I am doing everything I am supposed to do to keep my body up at this age. I lose weight; when you get older, you’re supposed to lose one pound every year and massage your weight. So I think I am doing well.”

Charles became the franchise’s leading career rusher last season as he put together his fifth season with 1,000-plus yards. He still carries a career average of 5.5 yards per rush, but he’s coming off a season that he has called “very frustrating.”

“I had never played a whole season where I had nagging injuries,” Charles said. “I go in and I’ve got to come back out because my ankle hurt. That was all the frustration. It wasn’t about the team; the team did a great job. We won nine games last year, so it couldn’t be the team. It was me because I missed a game and I felt like my team needed me.”