Top headlines & storylines with Kansas City Chiefs OTAs underway
The Kansas City Chiefs opened the third phase of their offseason program Tuesday, May 26, giving fans a first look at the 2026 roster. Six organized team activity practices are scheduled before mandatory minicamp.
Here are key takeaways:
- Patrick Mahomes is “way ahead of schedule” recovering from the ACL and LCL tears he suffered in mid-December, though general manager Brett Veach said the team’s challenge will be “protecting him from himself,” we previously reported.
- New backup quarterback Justin Fields will take the field in a Chiefs uniform for the first time during OTAs, offering an early look at his comfort with the playbook.
- Reigning Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker will make his on-field debut as a Chief after being brought in as Kansas City’s splash free-agency signing to reestablish the run game.
- Wide receiver Rashee Rice will miss some offseason work while serving a 30-day sentence in a Dallas County Jail for violating probation tied to a six-vehicle crash on March 30, 2024. The Star’s Pete Grathoff explored what his sentence may entail in a report Tuesday morning.
- The Chiefs traded up to select LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane with the sixth overall pick, and he’s expected to get heavy first-team reps this spring despite coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s reputation for bringing rookies along slowly, we reported last week.
- Defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott, last year’s second-round pick who tore his ACL in Week 7, is expected to participate in OTAs with possible restrictions after dealing with ankle and shoulder injuries throughout his rookie season.
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.
Pete Sweeney
The Kansas City Star