How much will Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ starters play in preseason opener?
The playing-time plan for the Chiefs in preseason openers falls into quarterbacks and quarters.
“We’re situated off the quarterbacks,” coach Andy Reid said. “Each will get a quarter.”
But openers don’t always go as planned. Last season, when the Chiefs played their preseason opener at Jacksonville, Patrick Mahomes played the first series, leading the Chiefs to a field goal.
Backup Carson Wentz entered the game for the second series, in the first quarter. Before halftime, then-third team quarterback Chris Oladokun led a drive.
Reid’s plan will have Gardner Minshew following Mahomes, then Bailey Zappe and Oladokun.
Saturday at Arizona, reserves will play a majority of the snaps, but is it possible for some starters to get more playing time than others, especially on the offensive line? The Chiefs are poised to start a rookie, Josh Simmons, and Kingsley Suamataia at left guard.
Last season, Suamataia was a rookie who started at left tackle. He played six offensive snaps in the preseason opener and 24 in the second game. When the regular season started, Suamataia was benched before the end of the second game. He was moved to guard and didn’t play again until Week 18.
“We’ll see how that goes,” Reid said. “I’ll play that by ear, but probably not more than a quarter.”
Typically, starters will get more playing time in the second preseason game and none in the third.
First-year players — from the draft and free agents — are the biggest curiosity in preseason games. It’s their first taste of NFL action. For cornerback Nohl Williams, drafted in the third round, it will be only the second NFL he’s ever attended.
His first: a preseason game between the Chiefs and Los Angeles Rams in the L.A. Coliseum in 2016.
“It’s going to be a blessing, just going out with my guys, putting the Kansas City name on my back,” Williams said.
Mahomes’ message to the rookies: Make it like camp.
“Obviously, it’s going to be a bigger stage, and you’re going up against another team,” Mahomes said. “But I think Coach Reid prepares us better than anyone in the league to play your best football. We practice hard. We practice fast. So when we get to the game it’s not a huge step for us.”
This story was originally published August 7, 2025 at 1:36 PM.