photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World

Kansas coach Lance Leipold addresses his team at the end of practice at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022.

The conclusion of the Saturday morning practice inside David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium means something important to the Kansas football team.

Training camp has ended, and it’s time to get ready for the season opener.

“You put all this work in, especially from January to now, and you get close to what you’re doing it all for,” coach Lance Leipold said following the practice, a 90-minute affair that was held in front of roughly 350 fans. “Sometimes, I struggle if you’re not excited about it. You put eight months of work into something and then I’d hope you’d be embracing the excitement to get there.”

The Jayhawks will open the season, their second under Leipold and his assistants, on Sept. 2 at home against Tennessee Tech.

photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World

Kansas coach Lance Leipold during practice at David Booth Memorial Stadium on Aug. 20, 2022.

After taking Sunday off, players will begin classes Monday and embrace more of a traditional schedule that will include practices in the morning followed by schoolwork.

The Jayhawks wore shells and shorts for Saturday’s practice, which meant the physicality and intensity were ratcheted down from a normal session. Leipold also gave a significant number of reps during team drills and seven-on-seven work to backups and those who had missed time earlier in camp through injury or illness.

Kansas junior quarterback Jalon Daniels throws the ball during practice at David Booth Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022.

“Camp was a grind, but there’s a game in sight,” senior tight end Mason Fairchild said. “There’s a lot of excitement. As the game gets closer, it’s going to feel like time is slowing down because you’re waiting for that game, but it’s going to get tough because school’s starting and all the distractions, but staying focused on the game is what we’re focusing toward.”

Sampson, Reed-Adams injured

Redshirt senior defensive tackle Caleb Sampson and redshirt sophomore right guard Armaj Reed-Adams, who are expected to start against Tennessee Tech, each missed Saturday’s practice with unspecified injuries and didn’t join their teammates on the field until midway through the session.

“They’ve been out now most of the week,” Leipold said. “We’re still waiting to see, but we expect them back soon.”

Reed-Adams wore a thin brace on his left knee but Sampson had nothing visible. Collectively, the Jayhawks have been relatively healthy throughout training camp; the only player who has missed several days is sophomore safety Jayson Gilliom, who has not practiced at all.

“The closer we get to kickoff, we want to make sure we’re in as best shape as possible,” Leipold said, “and hopefully, we continue to practice in a way that we’re as close to full strength as we can be.”

Kansas freshman cornerback Brian Dilworth catches an interception during practice at David Booth Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022.

Kansas redshirt senior offensive lineman Dominick Puni during practice at David Booth Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022.

Kansas sophomore safety O.J. Burroughs during practice at David Booth Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022.

Kansas super senior safety Andrew Russell during practice at David Booth Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022.

Kansas redshirt sophomore wide receiver Douglas Emilien during practice at David Booth Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022.

Kansas redshirt freshman punter Grayden Addison punts the ball during practice at David Booth Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022.

Kansas redshirt sophmore running back Ky Thomas runs the ball during practice at David Booth Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022.

Kansas redshirt junior linebacker Craig Young during practice at David Booth Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022.

Kansas senior safety Kenny Logan Jr. during practice at David Booth Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022.

Kansas Athletic Director Travis Goff answers questions during football practice at David Booth Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022.

Kansas redshirt freshman wide receiver Tanaka Scott catches the ball during practice at David Booth Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022.

Kansas redshirt sophmore wide receiver Quentin Skinner punts the ball during practice at David Booth Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022.

Kansas redshirt freshman punter Grayden Addison punts the ball during practice at David Booth Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022.

Kansas redshirt junior linebacker Lonnie Phelps runs through drills during practice at David Booth Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022.

Kansas redshirt junior linebacker Lonnie Phelps during practice at David Booth Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022.

Kansas redshirt sophmore running back Sevion Morrison runs the ball during practice at David Booth Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022.

Kansas redshirt freshman tight end Mack Moeller catches a pass during practice at David Booth Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022.

Kansas redshirt junior running back Torry Locklin runs through drills during practice at David Booth Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022.

Kansas super senior Eddie Wilson runs through drills during practice at David Booth Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022.

Kansas redshirt junior linebacker Craig Young during practice at David Booth Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022.

Kansas super senior Sam Burt runs through drills during practice at David Booth Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022.

Kansas sophomore running back Devin Neal during practice at David Booth Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022.