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The Chiefs got a lot healthier on Tuesday afternoon. One day after a record number of players (for this camp) were held out of action, the Chiefs were nearing full capacity once again just 24 hours later.

The offensive line, specifically, received a big boost in bodies. Barry Richardson and Ryan Lilja both returned to action, while DE Bobby Greenwood switched to the offensive side of the football (more on that later). With Lilja back with the first-team offense at right guard, Rudy Niswanger moved back over to center and worked with the second-unit.

“I was impressed with some of the things (Rudy) did (at right guard),” head coach Todd Haley said before practice. “He’s a smart, tough football player so, you know, for all these guys, what I’m preaching all the time is the more you can do, the more you can do the better.”

Niswanger last played right guard during the 2007 season in a reserve role and is in the middle of a positional battle with Casey Wiegmann for the Chiefs starting job at center.

Also back in action today were tight ends Tony Moeaki and Jake O’Connell, S Jon McGraw and OLB Mike Vrabel. QB Brodie Croyle, RB Kestahn Moore and G Darryl Harris were the players held out of practice in the bike area. S Jarrad Page has still yet to sign his reserve tender and/or report to camp.

48 Hours…

A mere 48 hours ago, Bill Stull was throwing passes to high school kids in his hometown; he was helping out the team as a coach. On Tuesday, Stull was wearing a yellow jersey (#5) and throwing footballs to players like Chris Chambers and Dexter McCluster.

“At 11:00 PM two nights ago (the Chiefs) said that it could possibly happen,” Stull said of his signing. “And then right when I got THE call, I was coaching at my old high school. I had just gotten done throwing one-on-ones with the receivers and d-backs. Then the first few plays of seven-on-seven came; phone rings and I’m gone and packed.”

The Chiefs got a long look at Stull last April, but didn’t sign him to a contract following the club’s rookie mini-camp. Regardless, Stull still left a positive impression on the Chiefs from his weekend tryout.

“Whether this is month-long, one-week, two-days or one-day, we had to get an arm in here,” Haley said. “Part of that is finding somebody that knows how we do things and a little bit about the terminology and he was a guy that through that rookie camp we were pretty encouraged about and actually recommended him, went out of our way to try and help the guy. He was a logical choice for us at this time.”

Haley left the door open to the possibility of Stull playing at Tampa on Saturday night.

Greenwood Switches Jerseys

Bobby Greenwood has been a defensive lineman his entire football career. That all changed on Tuesday when he traded his red defensive jersey for the color of the enemy.

Starting with Niswanger, the Chiefs had been moving a number of players around on the offensive line due to the situation presented by injuries. The newest edition of the tale was Greenwood shifting to right offensive tackle.

“I spent a little time with the coaches before practice and if they tell me to play offensive line, then I’m playing offensive line,” Greenwood said.

Greenwood took part in some of the pass rush drills and looked to hold his own during the session. A casual observer wouldn’t have been able to tell that it was Greenwood’s debut on the offensive front.

“I practiced (offensive line) on scout team in practice last year,” Greenwood said. “Just working will Bill Muir and Pat Perles beforehand really helped me out.”

For now, Greenwood is an offensive lineman. He said that the coaches haven’t indicated future plans for him to move back over to defense, or even possibly play on both sides of the football.

“They’ve told me offensive line right now and that’s it,” Greenwood said. “If they tell me to play quarterback, then I’ll throw the deep ball.”

Delivery For Studie

Andy Studebaker received a special delivery all the way from Philadelphia on Tuesday afternoon; Geno’s Philly Cheese Steaks.

The boys from Big Charlie’s Saloon (aka Arrowhead East) were in town to take in practice and brought the frozen goods with them on their journey. Apparently, Studebaker had Geno’s on the line when the Blackhawks took on the Flyers for the 2010 Stanley Cup. When Studebaker’s home-state Hawks took home the Cup, Studie was due some of Philly’s finest.

Studebaker was first introduced to members of the South Philly Chiefs bar when he was a member of the Eagles. Fate would have it that the Chiefs would pluck Studie off of the Eagles practice squad just a few weeks after the Big Charlie’s encounter.

Third-and-Short

Overall, Tuesday’s practice was a bit on the slow side with a lot of carded periods, but the team did dial it up for a live third-and-short session to close out practice. Here’s how the drill resulted…

1^st group

Offense wins 3-1

1) Jackie Battle powers his way behind Mike Cox for a first down

2) Javarris Williams goes off left tackle for five yards and a first down

3) Matt Cassel’s play-action boot intended for Leonard Pope is broken up by Derrick Johnson

4) Toss to Williams around the left side goes for 8 yards and a first down

2^nd group

Ties 2-2

1)      Toss right to Jamaal Charles is strung out nicely by Andy Studebaker, but Charles is able to cut and squeak his way for a first down

2)      Derek Lokey, Dion Gales and Garrett Brown team up to plug the middle, stopping FB Tim Castille behind the line of scrimmage.

3)      Tyler Palko runs for a first down off a play-action boot around left end

4)      Ryan Succop misses a 50-yard FG wide-right after Todd Haley calls timeout to “ice” the kicker

Other Notables

• Kendrick Lewis worked with the first-team defense alongside Eric Berry at safety; McGraw did not participate in team drills yesterday
• CB Jackie Bates snagged a Tyler Palko pass in seven-on-seven work for a nice INT
• Lots and lots and lots of special teams work today