According to Senior Team Reporter Matt McMullen, the rest of the Chiefs’ quarterback room will handle the snaps: Justin Fields, Garrett Nussmeier and Chris Oladokun. Recently, Reid himself addressed Mahomes’ situation: “I don’t know if I’ll play him the second or third game, I don’t know that, but the percentages likely lean against doing that.”

The head coach also added: “We’ve got new people in those other positions behind him that need some work, and so the more reps they get, the better.“ It is clear that the main goal is for No. 15 to be fully healthy and ready for Week 1.

What is Patrick Mahomes’ status?

Patrick Mahomes has made remarkable progress following the serious left knee injury he suffered late in the 2025 regular season. After tearing both his ACL and LCL, the quarterback underwent successful reconstructive surgery in December and spent the offseason undergoing intense, rigorous rehabilitation to regain full strength and mobility.

Now fully cleared for football activities without restrictions, the star signal-caller is entering the new season with immense confidence. Addressing his status during training camp, Mahomes provided significant injury update on his knee: ‘It feels great’, bringing huge relief to the team and reassuring fans that he is ready to play at an elite level once again.

Chiefs’ 2026 NFL Preseason games

Following their opening game against the Los Angeles Rams, the Kansas City Chiefs will continue their preseason preparation on the road against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on August 22 for Week 2, before wrapping up the exhibition schedule at home against the Seattle Seahawks on August 28. With the tune-up games behind them, the Chiefs will kick off the 2026 NFL regular season at Arrowhead Stadium in a Week 1 divisional clash against the Denver Broncos.

“He’s playing his tail off right now, and he’s leading us,” the tight end revealed during his press conference. These are not only words of reassurance for Andy Reid, but also for the entire Chiefs Kingdom, who are eager to quickly return to the top of the NFL.

Kelce also made it clear that he still has plenty to give his team at this stage of his career: “I still got a lot of love for this game. You know, I still think I can go out and play at a high level, and I want to go out there and prove to myself that I could play at a better level than I did last year.

“I think that’s probably the biggest thing for me is making sure that I’m accountable for the guys in this room and every single play that I’m out there.”

A dynamic duo to watch

After a complicated 2025 campaign that saw the Kansas City Chiefs miss the playoffs for the first time since 2014, Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce enter the new season determined to recapture their legendary form.

As one of the most iconic quarterback-tight end duos in NFL history, the pair built a dynasty in Kansas City, securing three Super Bowl titles (LIV, LVII, and LVIII) and breaking the all-time NFL postseason record for most playoff touchdown connections by a duo with 16.

Following a year marked by offensive rhythm breakdowns and injury setbacks, the historic duo is focused on resetting the standard, rebuilding their uncanny telepathic connection, and firing the Chiefs back into championship contention.

When will they take the field?

The Kansas City Chiefs will gear up for the upcoming campaign with three 2026 preseason matchups, opening at home against the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday, August 15, heading on the road to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday, August 22, and closing out exhibition play at Arrowhead Stadium against the Seattle Seahawks on Friday, August 28.

It remains uncertain whether head coach Andy Reid will give Patrick Mahomes or Travis Kelce any snaps during these games, as NFL teams frequently rest marquee veterans during the preseason to minimize injury risk ahead of the regular season.

“It feels great, pushing every single day, trying to stack days together,” Mahomes said Saturday to the press. “I feel like when you’re tired, sometimes you don’t even think about it. So, I’m trying to protect it, but at the same time, I’m trying to push it and get myself ready to go for the season.”

Although Andy Reid revealed that he likely will not use Mahomes during the preseason, the tests to ensure the QB is ready have been quite demanding: “I had to pass a test that that was pretty, pretty hard. And so, it was kind of about making me—so basically it made me really tired.

“Then they made me go out there and do a lot of cutting and jumping and all that different type of stuff. And so, I’m a competitor. So, when it comes to a test of physical ability, I wanted to go out there and do it, but (Dr. Dan Cooper) he wasn’t going to take it easy on me. He was going to push me to my limit and see what I got.”

Mahomes’ serious injury

On December 14, 2025, Patrick Mahomes suffered a severe knee injury late in the fourth quarter of a 16-13 loss against the Los Angeles Chargers. Scrambling to his right near the line of scrimmage, the Chiefs star was tackled by defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand, causing his left knee to buckle awkwardly underneath him. The impact resulted in a torn ACL and LCL, instantly ending his season and requiring major offseason surgery.

Chiefs’ preseason is approaching

The Chiefs’ three preseason games will be a major test as they look to be in the best possible shape for their Week 1 debut against the Denver Broncos. With Justin Fields likely to start, these are the three games Andy Reid’s team will play.

• vs Los Angeles Rams, August 15
• at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, August 22
• vs Seattle Seahawks, August 28

Chiefs Kingdom wants to return to the top

To bounce back and make another Super Bowl run, Andy Reid’s squad will need a full recovery from Patrick Mahomes following a brutal 2025 campaign where Kansas City missed the playoffs for the first time since 2014. The Chiefs struggled to a 6-11 record, finishing 3rd in the AFC West behind the Denver Broncos (14-3) and Los Angeles Chargers (11-6).

Kansas City’s offense took a severe hit during the losing stretch, averaging just 21.3 points per game (362 total points scored) while relying on a stout defense that allowed only 19.3 points per game (328 total points against). Rebuilding offensive line depth, retooling the offense, and getting Mahomes back to full health will be critical if the Chiefs want to reclaim division dominance and return to championship contention.

During Friday’s press conference, Andy Reid said Mahomes won’t play vs. the Rams, and is likely that he won’t participate at all. “There’s a pretty good chance I don’t play him [against the Rams],” Reid said.

Reid added, “Percentages are leaning that way. I don’t know if I’ll play him the second or third game, I don’t know that, but the percentages likely lean against doing that.” The Chiefs did see Cyrus Allen back in practice with Mahomes, and the WR is likely to see some preseason snaps at some point.

The QBs at Reid’s disposal for Chiefs preseason games

Justin Fields and rookie Garrett Nussmeier will be the ones taking the majority of snaps under center during the preseason games. Justin Fields is a highly-mobile, high-risk, high-reward kind of quarterback.

Meanwhile, Nussmeier is a gunslinger with a huge arm and less mobility. The seventh-rounder out of LSU is a quick-processing, rhythm-and-timing quarterback though it’s offset by a slight frame, and tendency for turnovers.

Chiefs preseason schedule

The Chiefs will face off against three NFC teams during their preseason campaign. If these games featured A-listers from every team, they’d be must-watch affairs:

• Week 1: vs. Los Angeles Rams – Saturday, August 15, at 4:00 PM ET (National TV: NFL Network, Local: KSHB 41)
• Week 2: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Saturday, August 22, at 7:30 PM ET (Local: KSHB 41)
• Week 3: vs. Seattle Seahawks – Friday, August 28, at 8:00 PM ET (Local: KSHB 41)

A week ago, Allen was carted off from practice after getting hurt during a special teams drill. Per Josh Alper of Pro-Football Talk, Allen was “catching passes from Patrick Mahomes during drills.”

Alper also added that “Allen had been doing well enough in that role to earn time with the first team before his injury and the Chiefs will be hoping he can pick up right where he left off.“

Mahomes could welcome a new weapon

Patrick Mahomes hasn’t exactly had a certified wide receiver since Tyreek Hill. Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy haven’t proved enough nor shown the consistency required to be relied upon. Add that to a Travis Kelce that has been declining in production and Cyrus Allen gaining Mahomes’ confidence could be incredible for the Chiefs.

Cyrus Allen has great ability to get separation and finished his final college season at Cincinnati with 13 receiving touchdowns, showing an innate knack for finding paydirt too.

The Chiefs offense needs to improve

The Matt Nagy era regressed an otherwise unstoppable unit. Now, the Chiefs went back to Eric Bieniemy as the offensive coordinator, and hope that gives them a boost. A guy like Allen paired with the other weapons could also be an improvement if they can stay healthy and out of trouble.

Last season, the Chiefs ranked 20th in total offense. However, it must be noted that Mahomes missed some time, as well as key pieces like Rice and Worthy. Now, they’re tasked to bounce back.

The wide receiver is slowly preparing for the most demanding stage of training. “Kansas City Chiefs WR Rashee Rice participated in 11-on-11 team drills for the first time at 2026 NFL training camp. It’s a clear sign that he’s made enough progress in his injury rehab and ramp-up for full-contact clearance,” Goldman wrote on X.

Mahomes is one of the people most eager to see Rice return, given the injuries to Xavier Worthy and Cyrus Allen during training camp. It remains to be seen what shape the Chiefs’ receiving corps will be in by the start of the season.

Rice slowly returns to action

Rashee Rice was sidelined from offseason workouts following a right knee scope and debridement procedure performed in May 2026. This minor arthroscopic clean-up was required to clear out residual joint inflammation and debris lingering from his major LCL repair in late 2024. The Chiefs took a cautious approach with his rehab throughout spring practices, prioritizing long-term stability so he could return at full strength for training camp.

Mahomes has a key weapon in Rice

During the 2025 season with Chiefs, Rashee Rice recorded 53 receptions for 571 receiving yards and 5 receiving touchdowns across 8 regular-season games following his return from a six-game suspension.

Operating as Patrick Mahomes‘ most reliable target in the short and intermediate passing game, Rice played a crucial role in stabilizing the offense by consistently generating yards after the catch (414 YAC) and providing Mahomes with a lethal threat in the red zone.

The Chiefs’ preseason games

Waiting to have as many players available as possible for this stage of preparation, these are the upcoming games for Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid‘s Chiefs.

• vs Los Angeles Rams, August 15
• at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, August 22
• vs Seattle Seahawks, August 28

“[Not going to lie] I haven’t played a quarterback who throw that peel like [Matthew Stafford],“ Watson wrote on his X account. Having spent the first four years of his NFL career with Mahomes and the Chiefs, Watson’s statement raised eyebrows.

It didn’t take long for Chiefs fans to find their former defensive back’s post, and the replies were filled with comments criticizing Watson and defending Mahomes. Needless to say, Mahomes himself made no comment, showing the animosity exists only between Watson and the fanbase—and is confined to social media.

Fans reply to Watson’s post

“Disrespect my glorious king Patrick Mahomes again. We are going to see how long you would be playing,” an upset, yet sarcastic fan stated. “There’s a guy who’s played in five super bowls, won three of them, who would like a word,” another user replied to Watson’s post. “Yeah, what QB got you the rings? You can be happy on a new team, but to be disrespectful for how you got where you are is just lame,” another fan said.

Clearly, the fanbase in the City of Fountains didn’t take Watson’s comment lightly. No Mahomes slander will be tolerated on their watch—even if there wasn’t any to begin with. Watson mentioned Stafford as the best thrower he has “played,” against, which could mean Mahomes wasn’t even under consideration since Watson never faced him outside of practice. However, Watson has never played Stafford, either. Stafford didn’t play the lone time Watson faced the Rams in 2022.

Unless he was counting his head-to-head matchups with Mahomes during Chiefs practices, Watson’s comments shouldn’t be controversial whatsoever. Still, if he still believes Stafford is a better pure thrower than Mahomes, there’s nothing wrong with that, either. He’s entitled to his opinion, and it doesn’t take anything away from the success he had while sharing a team with Mahomes.

Rams and Chiefs will meet soon

All this drama makes fans wish there were an immediate way to settle the debate over who the better quarterback is. So close, yet so far. The Chiefs and Rams will meet in a preseason game on Aug. 15.

However, neither Mahomes nor Stafford is expected to play much in the opening week of the NFL preseason—maybe a drive or two, at most—and there will be no joint practices between the teams, as the Chiefs have opted not to schedule any in 2026.

If Watson is to face Mahomes and his former teammates during the 2026 NFL season, it can only happen in Super Bowl LXI. It would be the perfect stage for Watson, as he could face his former team at home at SoFi Stadium on Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14). Still, that’s a long ways ahead.

Chiefs rookie receiver Allen, who dominated training camp headlines due to his great showings, collided with a teammate during a special teams punt drill. The 23-year-old was assisted off the field before being carted to the locker room with a leg injury.

Momentum for the Cincinnati fifth-round rookie is stalled pending injury updates. However, being carted off is never a good sign. Also, watching the incident happen in a lesser drill is even more of a bitter moment.

Cyrus Allen was projected as a prominent part of the offense

Allen was expected to play the WR3 role behind Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy. However, given the durability concerns of both Rice and Worthy, Allen was poised to get plenty of looks, especially after impressing early in training camp.

Depending on the severity of the injury, this could really derail the start of Allen’s NFL career. Playing with Mahomes and Andy Reid would be massive for prospect like Cyrus Allen. The team will have to wait for the results of the tests.

Chiefs WR depth chart

As of now, the Chiefs have a slim WR depth chart in terms of quality weapons for Patrick Mahomes. However, Travis Kelce is still there as a tight end, so that has to be counted as a top-tier weapon.

• Rashee Rice
• Xavier Worthy
• Tyquan Thornton
• Cyrus Allen (injured)
• Jalen Royals
• Jimmy Holiday

During a recent press conference ahead of the start of this stage of the NFL calendar, Mahomes made his stance on the situation clear. The goal, in order to avoid injuries like the one he suffered toward the end of the 2025 season, is to take better care of himself and look for more alternatives in his teammates.

“I plan to be able to to do everything I did before. I’ve been moving around and doing that stuff but, I’m obviously try to take care of myself a little bit better,” he said.

If needed, he now has an elite running back in the offense: “I think I ran little bit too much last season in general, so I’ll try to get better with that. Then if all else fails, I’ll just hand it off to K9 (Kenneth Walker) and let him go to work.”

A major setback for Mahomes

On December 14, 2025, Patrick Mahomes suffered a season-ending torn ACL in his left knee during a Week 15 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. The injury occurred in the final minutes of the fourth quarter when his knee buckled awkwardy as he was brought down by defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand while trying to scramble out of the pocket.

Mahomes underwent successful surgery the following day to repair both his ACL and LCL, ending a tough 2025 campaign that also saw the Chiefs miss the postseason for the first time since 2014.

Mahomes wants to protect his knee

Recovering from an injury can have different challenges for an NFL player. Mahomes does not want to leave anything to chance, and besides seeking advice from a player of Tom Brady’s caliber, he also has not ruled out the possibility of continuing to wear his knee brace to avoid setbacks.

“I’m going start off with it just because I’ve worn it before and I feel comfortable with it. So that that’s kind of where we will start, but it’s not like I’ve been told I have to wear it or how long I have to wear it,” he said via NBCSports.com.

“It’s just going to be my comfortability how I feel. But I will start with it on just because I feel like I can still move and be myself with it. I played with it in college and then we’ll just see where we go from there.”

What to expect from Kenneth Walker III

Coming off a dominant 2025 campaign with the Seattle Seahawks where he rushed for 1,027 yards and 5 touchdowns on 221 carries (4.6 YPC) while adding 31 receptions for 282 yards—and capping it all off as the Super Bowl LX MVP—expectations for Kenneth Walker III in Kansas City are sky-high.

After signing a three-year contract with the Chiefs in March 2026, the explosive back is set to step immediately into the RB1 role. With his elite contact balance and big-play ability, Walker III will serve as the undisputed focal point of the rushing attack, leaving clear depth and complementary roles for Emari Demercado and rookie Brashard Smith behind him.

What’s next for the Chiefs?

The 2026 NFL training camps are slowly starting to take shape, and while the Chiefs remained cautious regarding Mahomes’ situation, they are now expecting him to be there on July 28. The location where Andy Reid will watch his players return to action will be Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, Missouri.

Per Charles Goldman of AtoZSports, “Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes says that he’s talked to Tom Brady, Tyrann Mathieu, and Zach Ertz about his knee injury recovery, getting some advice from players who have suffered similar injuries.”

That is a very huge sign of maturity by Patrick Mahomes. Brady, not so long ago, was Mahomes’ nemesis in the league. Now, Mahomes is seeking a retired Brady for advice. Also, speaking to a former teammate like Tyrann Mathieu and a respected veteran like Zach Ertz speaks to Mahomes’ will to get back to his best.

Mahomes recovery timetable

Now that Andy Reid revealed Patrick Mahomes’ status is a good one, the timetable is very optimistic. Mahomes suffered his ACL tear the last December, so the 9-month period recovery should be up by Week 1. Hence, he is right on track.

Now, Mahomes is not looking at just recovering, but getting back to his best shape. If Mahomes manages to do so, he could really be rewriting history. Mahomes is a Chiefs legend already, and he could be an even bigger one if he delivers a ring after a knee injury.

Who can replace Mahomes if necessary?

If Patrick Mahomes suffers a setback, which would be unfortunate, the Chiefs would have Justin Fields stepping up as the quarterback. Fields is very mobile, but the Chiefs would suffer a lot in terms of arm-strength and accuracy.

Reid said, “Pat (Mahomes) is doing great with his [recovery]. He’s cleared to practice in all the different periods we have in camp… He’s been cleared to participate in full.”

Hence, after a blown knee, Mahomes is scheduled to take the field in Week 1 and that’s absolutely and positively great for the Chiefs. Mahomes is clearly a difference-maker and is the best quarterback in the 2020s decade.

Reid gave other injury updates on the Chiefs

“Omarr Norman-Lott will most likely start on the PUP list, but is making progress,” Reid said about the defensive tackle. Hence, the defense will have to wait a bit to get their defensive line fully healthy.

As for Rashee Rice, Reid said, “Rashee Rice, with his knee debridement, is doing great… He is cleared to go.” So in that case, Mahomes and his best weapon are ready to roll.

Mahomes revamps this offense in massive ways

An elite QB makes a good offense, a great one. A great offense into a top-tier unit and that’s what Mahomes does. He elevates the Chiefs offense in many ways. This is how the Chiefs starting offense looks right now:

• QB – Patrick Mahomes
• RB – Kenneth Walker III
• WR – Rashee Rice
• WR – Xavier Worthy
• TE – Travis Kelce