[Yahoo Sports] After two days of practice, rookie linebacker Derrick Johnson was working almost exclusively with the No. 1 defense Friday morning as the Chiefs resumed two-a-days. Keyaron Fox, the starter during offseason workouts and Johnson’s brief holdout, was on the right side behind Kendrell Bell on Friday.
Coach Dick Vermeil downplayed the move, saying he wants Fox to be able to play both positions for depth issues. Fox worked on the right side in the offseason and has been one of the biggest hitters in the first eight days of training camp.
Johnson has impressed the coaches with his speed, athleticism and ability to get to the ball.
“He needs the work,” Vermeil said of Johnson’s work with the No. 1 unit. “He needs the work, and obviously he has the ability to be up there. The 1s get more reps than the 2s, so that’s where he is.”
Fox, who set a preseason goal of being one of the team’s best linebackers, said he is unconcerned with the depth chart.
“Right now,” he said, “I think the bigger issue is all of us working together.”
