Kansas City, Mo. ? Sean Smith backpedaled into the end zone with the scout-team wide receiver, careful not to lay a hand on him. When the quarterback let go of the ball, the Chiefs’ cornerback quickly jumped on it, snapping it away for an easy interception.

It was perfect coverage. Perfect technique.

It was an important play for Smith to make in more ways than one.

Not only is the veteran cornerback trying to win back his starting job in a defensive backfield that is still unsettled, he’s trying to do it while adjusting to the league’s renewed emphasis on illegal contact and holding that is making life harder than ever for players at his position.

“You have to learn how to use your feet, especially if you’re going to press,” Smith said. “They’re going to let you get one good pop, and from there on, hands are off. You have to put yourself in good position.”

Total penalties are up nearly 44 percent from the first two preseason games last year, according to figures released by the NFL. More specifically, there have been 55 illegal contact penalties compared to eight last year, and 107 holds compared to 20 during the 2013 preseason.

“The biggest thing, you don’t want to stop being aggressive,” Smith said. “That’ll change your whole game. You still want to be physical.”

That rings especially true in Kansas City, where general manager John Dorsey and coach Andy Reid tend to favor bigger, more physical defensive backs over smaller, quicker ones.

“Your technique has got to be on point,” fellow cornerback Chris Owens said. “What happens, especially for me and I can only speak for myself, if you mess up on your technique you start to grab and pull, so you’ve got to be sound with your technique.”

On Thursday, the Chiefs traded backup offensive lineman Rishaw Johnson to Tampa Bay for Kelcie McCray, who has played with the Dolphins and Buccaneers the past two seasons.

“We’re going to roll them through and keep going,” Chiefs defensive coordinator Bob Sutton said of his defensive backs. “Each of them has had some really good plays and probably some they could do better. But I think the competition has been good, and we’re going to need all those guys.”

Marcus Cooper and Ron Parker started at the two cornerback spots early in camp, and Smith has barged back into the conversation.

Notes: RB Jamaal Charles (foot) returned to practice for the first time in a week, though he is unlikely to play Saturday night against Minnesota. RB/WR De’Anthony Thomas (hamstring) also returned to practice. … Berry, WR Dwayne Bowe (quad) and Joe Mays (wrist) were among those who did not participate in the workout.