Juju Smith-Schuster touches on his new leadership role in the wide receiver room

ST JOSEPH, Mo (News-Press NOW) -- After day eight of Chiefs training camp there have been some changes to the wide receiver room, mainly injuries but also a new leader in the locker room.
Xavier Worthy was banged up on the first play of practice on Tuesday July 29, but was able to walk off the field under his own power and continue practicing. Surprisingly, he did not practice on Wednesday July 30 as he is now in concussion protocol.
On the brighter side, after Andy Reid mentioned that Juju Smith-Schuster was the leader in the receiver room, Smith-Schuster talked to media today about just how much it means to him to have had mentors throughout his career that have shaped him into the leader he is today.
"You know it's a big responsibility that I take full control of," Smith-Schuster said. "Having grown into a veteran team where they already have guys who are established, it was very nice for me to be under their wing."
Smith-Schuster also had loads of praise for rookie receiver Jalen Royals and Tyquan Thornton, who played with Smith-Schuster while he was in New England in 2023.
"He [Royals] is a guy that's going to show up every day and just work," Smith-Schuster said. "He's a great guy to be around in that room."
After spending time with Thornton in New England, Smitch-Schuster said that he's come a long way.
"Man he [Tyquan] has come a long way. He's a guy that can stretch the field and even be physical," Smitch-Schuster said. "Pat loves a guy who can run and Tyquan can run for days. He's having a great camp."
With Juju as the leader of this receiver room, the younger guys have someone with a lot of NFL experience who will continue to help them grow into elite receivers.