Kansas City, Mo. ? In his first full practice since the end of training camp, Kansas City’s John Welbourn lined up at right tackle, left tackle, right guard and left guard.

The 6-foot-5, 310-pound veteran felt a bit confused but very, very happy. Sitting out a four-game suspension left him with a hunger for football that he hadn’t felt since he was a kid – and a vague sense of guilt that took him back to his school days.

“It was weird,” Welbourn said Wednesday. “It’s like playing hooky almost, like cutting class. I felt like there was somewhere I had to be, but I wasn’t there.”

Carson, Calif., was where he spent much of his time, at a workout camp where trainers keep a stern and watchful eye on athletes trying to get, or stay, in top physical condition.

“It’s hard to get in football shape, but you can still stay in pretty good shape,” Welbourn said. “You come out of training camp in good shape, and as long as you can maintain it, you’re all right.”

Welbourn, after fighting for more than a year what he felt were unfair steroid charges, was suspended for the first four games this season. Also on a four-game suspension imposed by the NFL for a third DUI conviction was cornerback Eric Warfield, who also returned to practice Wednesday.

Back, too, for his first full workout in pads since injuring a hamstring in the first half of the first game was Pro Bowl left tackle Willie Roaf.

With Roaf back in his familiar role of giving the line an impregnable look and Welbourn adding his mastery of every position, the offensive line should show a sharp upgrade when the Chiefs (2-2) resume their season Sunday by playing host to the Washington Redskins.

“It’s great,” Pro Bowl left guard Brian Waters said. “John’s an energetic guy. He’s real intense football player. He adds experience and depth for us. Willie is back to the old Willie.”

The offensive line has been a problem with Welbourn and Roaf both gone. Getting them back, coach Dick Vermeil said, would be like buying a giant security blanket.

In Welbourn, they have an experienced operative able to play anywhere on the line but center.

“He’s very smart,” said Vermeil. “If he’s going to play a backup role, then he’s got to be able to go into the ballgame and play any of the positions. And he’s very capable. He looks really good right now. I’m very impressed with him.”

Welbourn’s experience and versatility have been desperately lacking for an offense which at times has had trouble finding its sea legs.

“He adds a feeling of security to all the coaches and to the quarterback knowing you have a quality guy like that who can play multiple positions,” Vermeil said.

One possibility for Welbourn is right tackle, which also has been unsettled. Kevin Sampson, who started there in the last game against Philadelphia, was on his way back to town Wednesday from New Jersey, where he was hospitalized with seizures.

“You never know what’s going to happen between now and Sunday. He might end up lining up (at right tackle). You never know,” Waters said.