[Kansas City.com] For the first time since offseason workouts started last month, veteran guard Will Shields practiced Tuesday, temporarily squashing retirement speculation.

Shields told Vermeil in April that he would be back for 2005, but he reversed direction Monday, telling reporters that it’s not a given he’ll play and that he’s still contemplating retirement. When told of Shields’ comments later in the day, Vermeil said he still expected the 10-time Pro Bowler to return.

When asked about Shields’ status again Tuesday, Vermeil said: “I’m not going to get into that. He’s never said that to me. All I’m going to do is assume that he’s going to play. Because the timing would be very poor for him to all of the sudden decide he wasn’t.”