KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Some thoughts and observations on Tuesday's Kansas City Chiefs practice:

• Wide receiver Frankie Hammond Jr. took a lot of the starter's snaps that otherwise would have gone to Dwayne Bowe, who didn't practice because of what the Chiefs called a sore quad muscle. If that's a sign the Chiefs are seriously considering Hammond for their roster, that's a good move. Hammond is fast and is still growing as a receiver. He had a big game in Carolina on Sunday night when he caught three passes for 57 yards and lost a 51-yard catch and run on a holding penalty.

• The third preseason game is usually the big dress rehearsal for the starters and that's how the Chiefs will treat Saturday night's contest against the Minnesota Vikings at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs had their backups running the Vikings' offensive plays against the starting defense and Minnesota's defensive schemes against the starting offense.

• Two ailing defensive linemen, Mike DeVito and Mike Catapano, returned to practice after lengthy absences. DeVito has a broken hand while Catapano had a virus that was causing flu-like symptoms. Neither one has yet to play in a preseason game. The Chiefs wasted no time getting Catapano involved as a pass-rusher with their first-team defense.

• Bowe, running back Jamaal Charles, wide receiver Junior Hemingway and linebackers Joe Mays and Josh Martin were among the injured players who did not practice. Charles, who bruised his foot while moving out of the dorm last week when the Chiefs broke training camp, may not be far from a return to practice. He was with the Chiefs for their walk-through practice earlier in the day.