In unusual move for Chiefs, Mahomes, Kelce, Jones will open final preseason game
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- Chiefs will start Mahomes, Kelce and Jones in final preseason game vs. Bears
- Coach Andy Reid alters usual approach, opting to play first-team starters early
- NFL teams must reduce rosters to 53 players by August 25, ahead of Sept. 5 opener
The Chiefs will set aside their usual playbook and open Friday’s final preseason NFL game with head coach Andy Reid’s first-team players on the field.
That means star quarterback Patrick Mahomes, tight end Travis Kelce, defensive end Chris Jones and other regular starters will play in the game against the Chicago Bears at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
“Yeah, they’ll start it off for sure,” Reid said of his approach to Friday’s game, the Chiefs’ only preseason home game this year. “And then will see how it goes from there.”
In most previous years, the Chiefs have played only their backups in the final preseason game. Last year, Mahomes, Kelce, Jones, cornerback Trent McDuffie, receiver Rashee Rice and the entire starting offensive line didn’t play in the third contest.
But last week, Reid decided to sit several of his starters. Some projected first-teamers played — all of the starting offensive linemen, for example — in a 33-16 loss at the Seattle Seahawks. Reid said the idea was to give the Chiefs’ backups and players who could be on the roster bubble an opportunity to compete against an opponent that sent out its first- and second-team guys.
“I wanted to give the best look we could for (the KC backups),” Reid said. “They’re trying to make the team. We got some guys that are right on the border of making it.
“And I wanted to see the quarterback work with the (starting) offensive line.”
Backup quarterback Gardner Minshew started for the Chiefs and led the offense on its only touchdown drive, capping the possession with a 1-yard pass to tight end Robert Tonyan.
All NFL teams must trim their rosters to 53 players by the league-wide deadline of Aug. 26
The Chiefs open the regular season on Sept. 5 against the Los Angeles Chargers in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
This story was originally published August 18, 2025 at 1:13 PM.