So how much will the Kansas City Chiefs’ starters play in Saturday’s preseason finale?
Let’s pump the brakes on starting players possibly sitting out the final Chiefs preseason game.
Head coach Andy Reid on Wednesday assessed playing time this way: “The ones (starters) may get a little bit of time, and then the twos and threes will take it from there.”
That’s good news for Chiefs fans who plan to attend Saturday’s preseason finale against the Cleveland Browns. The game, with a noon kickoff at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, is the only home preseason contest for the Chiefs this year.
Since the NFL reduced the number of preseason games from four to three in 2021, the Chiefs have opened the third game with their starters on the field. Two years ago, superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes played two series, 15 plays, both resulting in touchdowns.
Last year, Mahomes was on the field for the Chiefs’ first series of the third preseason game. He huddled the rest of the starting offense in a “choir formation” — standing in front of two rows of five teammates — as a tribute to Chiefs great Len Dawson, who had died the previous day. The Chiefs took a delay of game penalty and Mahomes gave way to second-team quarterback Chad Henne.
Mahomes said he’d prepare the same no matter the situation.
“I just prepare myself every week,” Mahomes said. “I get the reps in there and I follow Coach Reid’s lead. He’s done this for a long time. He knows what’s needed every single year in order to go in and play well at the very beginning of the year. That’s why his record is so good at the beginning of the season.”
In his first 10 seasons in Kansas City, Reid’s teams are 9-1 in opening games.
Asked specifically whether Mahomes would play this weekend, Reid said, “We’ll see.”
Saturday’s game against the Browns is the final tuneup before Tuesday’s roster-cut day. The Chiefs must pare their roster from 90 to 53 players. Reserves will undoubtedly log most of the playing time against Cleveland.
“Everybody can’t make it here (on the 53-man roster). We know that,” Reid said. “They were told that when they first got in. But (they can) make it a tough decision for Brett and myself and the personnel guys, coaches. Then, if you don’t make it here, we’re going to give you an opportunity to be on tape.
“So get out there and perform well, and if you can’t make it here you can make it somewhere else.”
This story was originally published August 23, 2023 at 11:51 AM.