Kansas City Chiefs have rescheduled their recent practice after their defensive lineman BJ Thompson was taken to hospital due to cardiac arrest during a special teams meeting.
- June 7, 2024
AceShowbiz - The Kansas City Chiefs experienced a significant disruption during their off-season practices when defensive lineman BJ Thompson suffered a medical emergency on Thursday, June 6. According to multiple reports, the 25-year-old defensive lineman suffered a seizure and went into cardiac arrest during a special teams meeting at the Chiefs facility in Kansas City.
NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported that the Chiefs' medical staff immediately responded to the emergency, and Thompson was taken to the hospital in an ambulance. Fortunately, he is currently in stable condition.
This incident led to the postponement of the Chiefs' team practice scheduled for that day. The media availability originally set for Thursday, featuring head coach Andy Reid and select players, was moved to Friday, June 7, according to NFL.com.
The Chiefs have been in the midst of OTA offseason practices, which include drills but no contact plays. Their mandatory minicamp is set to begin from June 11 through June 13. Thompson, a fifth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, has played in one game for the Chiefs. Despite the alarming incident, the team remains focused on their upcoming season, aiming to maintain their reputation as back-to-back champs.
Amidst this medical emergency, other off-field issues have caught the spotlight. Chiefs' defensive lineman Isaiah Buggs currently faces accusations of second-degree animal cruelty after allegedly abandoning two malnourished dogs at a rental home in Alabama. In another case, wide receiver Rashee Rice turned himself in to police in Texas after an arrest warrant was issued for his involvement in a multi-car collision in Dallas.
The controversies don't end there. Chiefs' kicker Harrison Butker recently faced backlash for a controversial commencement speech he delivered at Benedictine College, a Catholic institution, on May 11. Butker's remarks touched upon women's roles, abortion, in vitro fertilization (IVF), surrogacy, LGBTQ+, and even President Joe Biden, igniting widespread criticism.
The NFL quickly distanced itself from Butker's views, with Jonathan Beane, the NFL's senior vice president and chief diversity and inclusion officer, stating, "Harrison Butker gave a speech in his personal capacity. His views are not those of the NFL as an organization. The NFL is steadfast in our commitment to inclusion, which only makes our league stronger."
