Here are Andy Reid’s plans for Chiefs playing time in preseason opener at Jaguars
Chiefs starters are expected to play in the first quarter of the preseason opener on Saturday in Jacksonville, Andy Reid said on Wednesday.
After that, the second team gets the second quarter and those behind them on the depth chart are slated for the second half.
The game will kick off at 6 p.m. Central and be broadcast on 38 The Spot, KMCI in Kansas City.
Plans could always change. In last year’s preseason opener, Patrick Mahomes played in the first series before departing, and third-team quarterback Shane Buechele was in the game before halftime.
This year, Carson Wentz is the primary backup followed by Chris Oladokun and Ian Book.
Some teams don’t play their starting quarterbacks in preseason games. That’s never been the case with Mahomes and Andy Reid’s Chiefs. First-team players see action.
“I allow them to get into the swing of things,” Reid said of the starters. “Both sides of the ball, they know how to go about doing that, but somewhere you’ve got to get on there and shoot, and so it gives him an opportunity to do that.”
Several projected starters or rotation players who didn’t practice on Wednesday may not play Saturday. The list includes linebacker Nick Bolton, defensive tackle Chris Jones, safety Justin Reid and wide receiver Kadarius Toney.
The game will provide the first NFL action for the draft class, including wide receiver Xavier Worthy and left tackle Kingsley Suamataia, selected in the first two rounds.
“All those young guys, I’d love to see how they compete,” Andy Reid said. “The higher the draft picks, they’ll be in there against the better competition.”
Mahomes, who played in the first two preseason games in 2023 before sitting out the third and final game, said he’s been ready to face a defense other than his own, led by coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.
“I’m tired going against Spags and every defense known to man,” Mahomes said.
The Chiefs issued their first depth chart this week with no big surprises. The list includes a fullback, Carson Steele, a rookie from UCLA; the Chiefs didn’t keep one last season.
Also, tight end Geor’Quarius Spivey, a tight end who played at Mississippi State and TCU — and was a Horned Frogs teammate of Chiefs draft pick Jared Wiley — was signed by the Chiefs earlier this week.