Bieniemy spoke to the media about what took place with Mahomes, making it clear that such interactions are completely normal. “I have no problems with guys venting their frustrations, because I want them to; that’s part of the dynamics of the relationships that we have,” said Bieniemy.

“Sometimes you’re going to agree with things, sometimes you’re going to disagree with things. If there’s something that’s taking place out on the field, they might have a better view than what we do off the field.”

What happened between Mahomes and Bieniemy?

Television cameras caught Mahomes and Bieniemy in an animated sideline discussion. The two-time NFL MVP seemed frustrated, but Bieniemy embraced the public reaction.

“I want them to be comfortable sharing that stuff with me. There are no issues of communications. We’re in the arena. It’s all about survival. Sometimes you get their best, and sometimes you get their worst,” said Bieniemy. “I’m inviting all of that, because I’d rather hear him (Mahomes) air his frustrations at me than to vent it in a different place where it’s not going to be taken the right way.”

Nothing new between Bieniemy and Mahomes

Sideline friction of this nature is nothing new for the pair. During a 20-17 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in September 2022, they engaged in a confrontation heading into halftime after Bieniemy decided to run out the clock rather than let Mahomes attempt a deep pass.

Head coach Andy Reid had to step between them as they walked toward the locker room tunnel, though both player and coach subsequently downplayed the incident.

Key takeaways

• A sideline dispute occurred between Eric Bieniemy and Patrick Mahomes in Week 4.
• Eric Bieniemy stated he has no problems with players venting their on-field frustrations.
• A 20-17 loss in September 2022 featured a prior confrontation between Mahomes and Bieniemy.

Mahomes tore the ACL and LCL in his left knee during a December 2025 loss to the Chargers, requiring surgery and an extensive rehabilitation process. Although he was cleared for full participation during training camp and has played through the opening four games of the current season, his recovery remains an important consideration as the Chiefs enter a demanding stretch of their schedule.

The early bye week arrived sooner than many might have expected, but Mahomes believes the timing offered a valuable opportunity to assess his physical condition. With upcoming games against the Chargers, Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos, Kansas City has a chance to strengthen its position in the AFC West, and keeping its star quarterback healthy will be crucial to those ambitions.

Patrick Mahomes reveals knee injury update with Chiefs

Speaking after the bye week, Patrick Mahomes explained that the extra time away from game action allowed him to give his surgically repaired knee a break and assess how it was responding to the demands of the season. Rather than viewing the bye solely as time off, he described it as an opportunity to evaluate his progress after the first four games.

“For me, it gives my knee an extra week just to rest and stuff like that. I’ve felt great this season. It gives me another week where I can kinda be like, ‘Alright, I got through that first few games,’ kinda reset, and reevaluate where I’m at and then move forward. Winning helps a ton.”

The update suggests Mahomes is approaching his recovery carefully, even as he continues to lead an undefeated Chiefs team. His knee has held up through the opening stretch, and the additional rest provides an opportunity to address any accumulated fatigue before the schedule becomes more demanding. Mahomes has not indicated that the injury is preventing him from playing, and he has participated fully in practice this week.

The Chiefs now turn their attention to a divisional matchup against the Chargers, followed by challenging games against the Seahawks and Broncos. Those contests could have a significant impact on the AFC West race, making Mahomes’ health a central storyline for Kansas City. For now, his comments offer reassurance that he is continuing to monitor his recovery while preparing to lead the Chiefs through an important part of the season.

Key takeaways

• Patrick Mahomes confirmed the early bye-week helped him to reasses his recovery process after a serious knee injury.
• The Kansas City Chiefs started the season with a 4-0 record.
• Mahomes and the Chiefs will face the Chargers on Sunday.

The Chiefs were—in many ways still are—a heavy play-action usage offense. That has changed a bit since Walker arrived in Missouri, but it remains a characteristic of the offense at Arrowhead Stadium. What’s changed, however, is where Mahomes is lined up.

Ever since Kansas City signed the reigning Super Bowl LX MVP in free agency, it has become fond of placing him directly under center. According to Mahomes, the idea was his, but it wasn’t until Walker showed his skills in practice that Reid and company were sold on the scheme change.

“I mean, it was easy once I saw Kenneth [Walker III] running the football,” Mahomes stated in a press conference, via KC Sports Network. “I was like, we’ve got to make sure that we give him the best chances to succeed, and obviously he’s ran the ball terrific under center.”

Chiefs dominate in what they struggled last season

As reported by Arrowhead Pride, the Chiefs were one of the worst offenses in the league when operating under center. Kansas City had the fewest yards per pass attempt in the NFL (3.0 yards) out of under-center formations, and its total yardage per game was also among the lowest in the league. Fast-forward to the 2026 NFL season, and the Chiefs are now the league’s leading rushing team out of such formations, averaging 6.3 yards per play.

Walker III deserves plenty of credit for that leap, and having such a weapon in the backfield, just standing there menacingly, opens up the playbook for Reid’s favorite calls: play-action passes and RPOs. Combined with Mahomes’ arm talent, this has made the Chiefs the second-best passing offense in the league out of under-center formations, averaging 9.5 yards per pass attempt.

Chiefs are 4-0

What a difference a year makes. And when it comes with the signing of a superstar like “K9,” that helps, too. The Chiefs are 4-0, their offense is back at the top of the NFL charts, and the rest of the league should take cover.

Key takeaways

• Kenneth Walker III signed with Kansas City after winning Super Bowl LX MVP with Seattle.
• The Chiefs are averaging 6.3 yards per play when rushing from under-center formations.
• Kansas City leads its division with an undefeated 4-0 start to the season.

Although Rice’s availability for the game at Arrowhead remains uncertain, Reid said the wide receiver is feeling better. “It could be a week, it could be two,” the coach said regarding his hamstring injuries.

Andy Reid also addressed Omarr Norman-Lott’s current situation. “He is getting better. He’s working out with the trainers. He’s getting close.” The Chiefs are slowly beginning to get players back at a crucial point in the season.

What happened to Rashee Rice?

Rashee Rice’s path with injuries has been a real rollercoaster for Kansas City. After missing most of 2024 following a freak knee collision with Patrick Mahomes, he spent a ton of time working his way back to full strength. Just as he was regaining his stride as Mahomes‘ go-to target in 2026, he suffered a right hamstring tweak early against the Raiders, forcing him to leave the field.

Luckily for the Chiefs, the timing worked out with an early bye week, giving Rice some much-needed breathing room to rest up and avoid any long-term setbacks as he works to lock back into the offense.

Awaiting Rice

While Andy Reid and the Chiefs wait to get Rashee Rice fully healthy and back into the flow, Kansas City has a solid stretch of games lined up:

• Week 6 (Oct 18): vs. Los Angeles Chargers at Arrowhead Stadium (4:25 PM ET)
• Week 7 (Oct 25): at Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field (8:20 PM ET)
• Week 8 (Nov 1): at Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High (4:25 PM ET)

With Patrick Mahomes holding down the fort alongside Travis Kelce and Xavier Worthy, Kansas City will look to keep their momentum rolling through these divisional and cross-conference matchups until Rice is cleared to light up the field again.

Key takeaways

• Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid stated “we’ll see” if Rashee Rice practices.
• Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice dealt with right hamstring injuries.
• Omarr Norman-Lott is getting better and working out with trainers for Kansas City.

“It’s going to do a lot of great things for [Mendoza]. [Cousins] is a true pro. He knows how to run the team and everything the right way. It’ll be great for Fernando to learn and just take in. Hopefully not too much,” Mahomes admitted during his postgame press conference. “Because it went really well for me and Alex [Smith], hopefully not that much [for Mendoza, Cousins, and the Raiders] unless I’m gone or something like that.”

Mahomes came into the league as the 10th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft but didn’t start right away. Instead, Andy Reid and the Chiefs sat him for virtually his entire rookie year (Mahomes only played one game) and had Alex Smith teach him the ropes in Kansas City.

The move paid off right away, and Mahomes threw for 5,097 yards and 50 touchdowns in only his second year in the league. Whatever the antonym to a sophomore slump is, Mahomes enjoyed that in 2018. The rest is history.

Chiefs are off to red-hot start and Raiders, too

In 2026, Mahomes and company are off to chase more records and silverware. As it stands, the Chiefs are one of three teams to start the 2026 NFL season 4-0, along with the Minnesota Vikings and San Francisco 49ers.

So far, the Raiders have copied the Chiefs’ blueprint and they have a lot to show for it, as Cousins is playing some of the best football of his career, while Mendoza hasn’t seen the field yet but is taking it all in. In the long run, taking his rookie year to be an apprentice rather than being tossed into the fire of a storied franchise with high expectations and a loud fanbase appears to be the best option.

If you don’t believe it, ask Mahomes and the Chiefs. They have three rings, five Super Bowl appearances, and are far from done. That should answer any questions.

The Raiders mimic the Chiefs

They say if you can’t beat your enemy, join them. The Raiders won’t ever come close to joining forces with their foes in Missouri, but they are taking a page out of their playbook and might change the course of the franchise’s history by doing so.

As for Mahomes and the Chiefs, it makes sense why they aren’t upset at other teams mirroring their blueprint. At the end of the day, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

When will Kansas City and Las Vegas play again?

The first matchup between the Chiefs and Raiders in 2026 didn’t disappoint. The two won’t meet again until Week 18 at Arrowhead. If both can maintain their current form until then, it might be a matchup for the AFC West title, and perhaps even more.

If the Raiders run out of gas, however, and Cousins loses his touch, it might set the stage for the first of many Mahomes vs. Mendoza showdowns in the NFL. Either way, fans across the league will be pleased with the outcome.

Key takeaways

• Patrick Mahomes praised the Raiders’ approach with Kirk Cousins and rookie Fernando Mendoza.
• Kansas City is off to a 4–0 start in the 2026 season.
• The division rivals will meet again in Week 18 at Arrowhead Stadium.

That early success has already changed the conversation surrounding the Chiefs. After spending much of the offseason hearing doubts about the team, Kansas City is now being discussed once again as a potential Super Bowl contender. Mahomes, however, knows how quickly that narrative can change in the NFL, and he believes his teammates must maintain the mentality that helped them respond to all the criticism they received during the offseason.

“In this league, it’s week to week. One week they’re patting on your back and one week they’re telling you that you’re terrible. I think all offseason we heard about how bad we were and guys were super hungry. They came in with that mentality. I think that’s why we’ve had the success that we’ve had these first two weeks.”

Patrick Mahomes wants the Chiefs to keep their hunger

Patrick Mahomes went even further with his warning, pointing out that the Chiefs are now facing a completely different kind of challenge. Instead of entering games with everyone questioning whether Kansas City can return to the top of the NFL, the Chiefs are once again receiving praise after their 2-0 start. For Mahomes, that praise can become dangerous if it causes the team to lose the urgency it carried throughout the offseason.

The quarterback emphasized that Kansas City is nowhere close to reaching its desired level, even though outside expectations have already changed dramatically. The Chiefs still have an entire season ahead of them, and Mahomes believes the team must continue treating every week as an opportunity to improve rather than allowing its undefeated record to create complacency.

“It’s like, how can you keep that hunger? Now, everybody is saying we’re amazing and that we’re great. We gotta keep the hunger that we had this entire offseason. We’re nowhere near where we want to be. We’re still so early in the season. There’s still so much for us to learn and to get better at. We have to have that mentality week in and week out if we want to go out there and have success.”

The message from Mahomes is clear: a 2-0 record has given the Chiefs a strong start, but it has not solved everything. Kansas City has already experienced two very different games, and the quarterback understands that the expectations surrounding the team can shift just as quickly. With the Chiefs now receiving the praise they spent the offseason chasing, Mahomes wants his teammates to make sure that success does not take away the hunger that helped them reach this point.

Key takeaways

• The Kansas City Chiefs opened their season 2-0 with wins over Denver and Indianapolis.
• Patrick Mahomes urged teammates to keep their offseason hunger despite new praise.
• The quarterback emphasized that the team remains nowhere near where they want to be.

That has created pressure on Xavier Worthy and Rashee Rice to take another step as the season progresses. Both receivers have the talent to become major weapons for Mahomes, but Kansas City could eventually decide that adding another proven playmaker is worth exploring if the passing game remains inconsistent.

That is where Tyreek Hill becomes an intriguing possibility. A late-season return to the Chiefs would be complicated by his recovery and would depend entirely on his physical condition, but if Hill can get healthy enough to contribute, the idea of using him as a WR3 rather than asking him to carry the offense could make the reunion particularly attractive.

Why could Tyreek Hill make sense for the Chiefs?

The Chiefs do not necessarily need Tyreek Hill to be the player who dominated defenses during his first stint with the organization. Kansas City would have a very different role available for him in 2026, one that could allow the veteran receiver to operate as another explosive weapon alongside Rice and Worthy while Travis Kelce continues to play a major role in the passing game.

That distinction could make a potential reunion more realistic. The Chiefs would not need to build their offense around Hill or immediately give him an enormous workload. Instead, they could use his speed selectively, force defenses to respect the deep ball and create more space for Mahomes and the rest of the offense.

The pressure on Worthy and Rice would also change if Hill arrived. Rather than asking two younger receivers to consistently provide explosive plays, Kansas City could distribute that responsibility across a deeper group. Worthy could continue developing while Rice remains one of Mahomes’ primary targets, with Hill providing another threat capable of changing how defenses approach the Chiefs.

A reunion could be huge for the Chiefs

Travis Kelce has already shown that he can remain a major part of the offense, giving Mahomes a reliable option in the middle of the field. Adding Hill to that equation would theoretically give Kansas City a collection of weapons with very different skill sets, creating more possibilities for Andy Reid and the offensive staff.

The biggest question, however, would be Hill’s health. He is recovering from a serious knee injury, and the Chiefs would have to determine whether he can still create the separation and explosiveness that made him one of the NFL’s most dangerous receivers.

If Hill is healthy enough to contribute late in the season, his potential role as a third wide receiver could be particularly interesting. He would not need to be the same Tyreek Hill who left Kansas City in 2022; he would simply need to be good enough to force defenses to account for him. It’s important to remember that Hill is a free agent and that makes things less complicated.

For a Chiefs team that could be competing deep into the season, that type of addition could become increasingly appealing. Kansas City already has the quarterback, coaching staff and offensive foundation to contend, but adding another proven playmaker could give Mahomes another weapon when the games become more important.

A Hill reunion remains hypothetical at this point, and there is no guarantee that the Chiefs will pursue him. But if Kansas City continues winning while its passing game leaves room for improvement, bringing Hill back late in the season could become one of the more fascinating possibilities to monitor.

“We have to get better at executing in the red zone, because that’s what wins you football games,” Mahomes stated during his press conference. A field goal can contribute to a victory, but a touchdown is more effective.

The quarterback also spoke about maintaining a winning mindset from game to game: “In this league, it’s week-to-week… All offseason, we heard about how bad we were… How can you keep that hunger now that everyone is praising you, telling you you’re great… We’re nowhere near where we want to be… You have to go out every week and have that mentality if you want to have success.”

One way or another, the Chiefs are doing a great job and currently hold a 2-0 record. As the weeks go by, it will be interesting to see whether they can ultimately make the necessary adjustments on offense to become a more lethal team in the red zone.

Chiefs’ offensive firepower

Through the first two weeks of the 2026 season, the Chiefs’ offense has been putting up points, racking up 7 total touchdowns (5 passing, 2 rushing) and sticking to their high-powered scoring routine. Harrison Butker has stayed sharp as well, hitting 5 of his 6 field goal attempts over the two-game stretch.

As for Patrick Mahomes‘ go-to partner, Travis Kelce remains his primary target in the air—leading the team with 12 catches for 172 yards and a touchdown—though newly acquired running back Kenneth Walker III has quickly turned into an explosive centerpiece for the overall attack.

Kansas City wants to keep the momentum going

The Chiefs are heading into a key divisional stretch, starting with two straight road games before taking an early breather. First up in Week 3, they hit the road to take on the Miami Dolphins, followed by a quick trip out West in Week 4 for a classic AFC West rivalry showdown against the Las Vegas Raiders. After that division battle, Kansas City gets its BYE week in Week 5 to recharge before returning home to Arrowhead in Week 6 to host the Los Angeles Chargers.

Key takeaways

• Quarterback Patrick Mahomes stated the Kansas City Chiefs must execute better in the red zone.
• Harrison Butker has converted 5 of 6 field goals through two games this season.
• Kansas City faces the Miami Dolphins on the road in Week 3 of the schedule.

“We had the big play in overtime where we think we stripped the ball—I was actually kinda glad, I didn’t want to see twitters reaction if they would’ve called it a fumble,” Mahomes said during his post-game press conference.

Trailing by three points, Laquon Treadwell caught a pass from Daniel Jones near the 20-yard line and was tackled by the Kansas City secondary. After losing the ball, the officials reviewed the play and ultimately ruled it an incomplete pass rather than a fumble, which would have given the home team an immediate victory at that point.

Andy Reid’s team has established itself as one of the NFL’s winningest teams in recent years, and that level of success often leads to public scrutiny over how it has managed to win so much. Fortunately for Mahomes, the win at Arrowhead was a clean one.

Mahomes rises to the occasion once again

Patrick Mahomes was back to putting on a show in the Chiefs’ wild 33-30 overtime victory against the Colts. He looked completely vintage, putting up a massive line by completing 32 of 47 passes for 382 yards, three touchdowns, and clean sheet with zero interceptions.

On top of slinging it all over Arrowhead, he scrambled twice for another 17 yards on the ground. He was spreading the love all night—hitting Travis Kelce, Xavier Worthy, and Jalen Royals for scores—and ultimately marched Kansas City down the field in OT to set up Harrison Butker’s game-winning kick.

Have the Chiefs ever been benefited?

In a closely contested matchup between the Chiefs and the Denver Broncos, controversial officiating once again sparked intense debate among fans and analysts alike. The scrutiny centered on Patrick Mahomes’ first touchdown scramble of the season, where Travis Kelce appeared to commit a clear, uncalled holding infraction on a Broncos defender to spring Mahomes into the end zone.

The missed call reignited long-standing accusations of favorable whistle-treatment for Kansas City, a narrative even Kelce later acknowledged with a lighthearted comment regarding the officials’ decision to keep their flags tucked away.

Key takeaways

• The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Indianapolis Colts 33-30 in overtime during their 2026 season game.
• Quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw for 382 yards and three touchdowns without throwing any interceptions.
• Officials overturned a late overtime fumble call on Laquon Treadwell, ruling the play an incomplete pass.

Albeit to different degrees, both signal-callers are staples under center for their teams. By now, fans across the NFL know they will be in charge of the fate of the pigskin. The same applies to the Chiefs and Colts’ running-back depth charts. Who will be behind Mahomes and Jones in the depth chart, and next in line should something happen to the starters, is the real question.

Justin Fields will be Kansas City’s second-string quarterback in Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season. As for Indianapolis, it will be another question-marks-filled quarterback serving as backup: Anthony Richardson. Both young quarterbacks share similarities in that they are questioned on many of their traits, but no one denies how explosive they are with the ball in their hands and some room to run.

Emergency quarterbacks for Chiefs vs Colts

Both teams hope they don’t need to send any quarterback other than their starters on Sunday night—unless it’s a substitution as result of a blowout. Still, the Chiefs and Colts must brace for whatever may come their way. On that note, they both have a third, emergency quarterback designated.

In Kansas City’s case, it will be rookie Garrett Nussmeier. Indianapolis will have sophomore quarterback Riley Leonard in that role. As emergency QBs, Nussmeier and Leonard can only be brought into the gridiron if both signal-callers ahead of them are injured.

How did Mahomes and Jones play in Week 1?

Both Mahomes and Jones entered the 2026 NFL season after long injury rehab journeys. In his first game back from the torn ACL and LCL suffered late last year, Mahomes threw 15 completions for 184 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception.

Mahomes cleared all concerns around his leg health with solid runs and movement in the pocket, along with 23 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground. In case it wasn’t clear enough, Mahomes clarified his leg injury status ahead of Week 2.

As for Jones, he suffered an Achilles tear last season. In his return, Jones threw more passes than Shane Steichen may have liked as Indy allowed an early lead to Baltimore in the 41-23 loss. Jones finished the day with 19 passes for 166 yards, a touchdown, and an interception.

Fantasy points in Week 1, Week 2 projections

Mahomes put up 21.6 points in fantasy football, per ESPN’s app, in Week 1’s statement win over the reigning AFC West champions, the Denver Broncos. Jones, meanwhile, had a rougher outing, finishing with only 9.04 points. Entering Week 2, Mahomes projects 18.22 points, while Jones is expected to record 13.9 points.

Regardless of whether they helped fans win in their leagues or not, both quarterbacks have put their 2025-season-ending injuries in the rearview mirror and appear fully healthy to guide their teams in 2026.

Coming off an ACL tear, Mahomes finished just 15/27 for 184 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. He also ran for another TD. Still, media is questioning about his leg and Mahomes was clear on how he’s feeling.

“Yeah, I feel normal actually. I mean, it’s like a blessing and curse. You get sore everywhere else because you haven’t played football in so long. And so, the leg is like the least of my worries right now,” Mahomes said.

Mahomes played with no fear in Week 1

Mahomes picked his way through the defense for a 15-yard score to open the board. He ran through contact early in the first quarter. That is impressive given how many players would be hesitant to welcome contact like that after an ACL tear.

The fact is that Mahomes also saw help from star running back Kenneth Walker III. The Super Bowl MVP had 23 carries for 173 yards and two total touchdowns. Mahomes still needs to find his rhythm, but he is getting there and has help from the running game.

The Chiefs are strong favorites vs Colts

The Colts just received a 40-piece from the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1, where they ran the ball at ease. The Chiefs will try to replicate that against them with a red-hot Kenneth Walker III.

However, the Colts also allowed 150 receiving yards to Zay Flowers. That could allow Mahomes to find proper connections with wideouts like Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy.