Mahomes 'extremely confident' he'll play Week 1
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said he is "extremely confident" he will play in the team's regular-season opener against the Denver Broncos on Sept. 14, according to KSHB 41's Tod Palmer. Speaking during Saturday's preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Mahomes said, "We're trending (in) that direction."
Mahomes, who suffered a torn ACL and LCL in his left knee last December, said he wanted to play Saturday, but the decision wasn't up to him. He is hoping to feature in the Chiefs' preseason finale against the Seattle Seahawks on Aug. 28.
The 30-year-old has been a regular participant during training camp this summer. "We'll see if I get to play then," Mahomes said. "If not, I'm going to be ready to go for that first game of the year, God willing."
He added: "I feel great. I'm getting more and more athletic every single time I'm on the football field, and that's all you can ask for."
In a separate interview with CBS' Trent Green, per Sleeper Chiefs, Mahomes expressed similar sentiments: "I really wanted to play but they would not let me. I'll be trying to play next week, but at the end of the day it's up to coach Reid."
Coach Reid's cautious approach
Chiefs coach Andy Reid has been measured about Mahomes's preseason participation, citing the need to get backup quarterbacks valuable reps. "There's a pretty good chance I don't play him... The percentages are leading 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," Reid said. "We've got new people in those other positions behind him that need some work, and so the more reps they get, the better."
Mahomes has acknowledged Reid's authority. "At the end of the day it's up to Coach Reid and I have to trust that he's going to do right by me," he said. "Like I said, I prepared like I was going to play this game. Obviously, I didn't get to play, but I'll prepare next week. We'll see if I get to play then. If not, I'm going to be ready to go for that first game of the year, God willing."
Mahomes has been a full go at training camp since late July, when Reid cleared him for 11-on-11 work. "At the end of the day, all I can do is get better and better each day... But as long as there's no setbacks, I think I'm going to have the best possible chance to play out there, as long as the doctors say yes and Coach Reid says yes, but we're trending in that direction," Mahomes said.
Backup quarterback competition
The Chiefs brought in Justin Fields via trade from the Jets in March and drafted Garrett Nussmeier as a seventh-round pick. Assistant GM Mike Bradway told reporters Wednesday that the Chiefs might carry three quarterbacks. Fields got the start against Tampa Bay, with Nussmeier and Oladokun splitting the rest of the snaps.
The Chiefs lost to the Rams 20-12 in their second preseason game. Fields went 4 for 4 for 41 yards in limited action against the Rams. Nussmeier completed 13 of 19 passes for 98 yards, steering an 11-play drive that set up Harrison Butker for a 59-yard field goal. Reid praised Nussmeier's performance: "For his first time out there rolling, I thought he handled it well, made some nice throws, had some long yardage situations, and handled it well. And did a good job there."
The Chiefs have dropped both preseason games so far.
Looking ahead to the regular season
The Chiefs missed the playoffs last season for the first time since Mahomes became their starting quarterback in 2018. They open the regular season with a prime-time matchup against the reigning AFC West champion Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football. Mahomes is still on schedule to start Week 1 against the Broncos.