Will Patrick Mahomes play in Chiefs' first preseason game? Signs point to no.

Pete Sweeney, The Kansas City Star on Aug 7, 2026

Published in Football

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ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs are set to open their three-game preseason schedule a week from Saturday, when they host the Los Angeles Rams in a midafternoon game at Arrowhead Stadium.

In past years, it would be typical to see quarterback Patrick Mahomes for a series or two, but this particular offseason has been anything but typical for him.

Although he’s been fully cleared for training camp practices, Mahomes’ recovery from his torn ACL and LCL is still ongoing, and all indications are that the Chiefs will be careful.

“There’s a pretty good chance I don’t play him, and percentages are leaning that way,” head coach Andy Reid said Friday. “And I don’t know if I’ll play him in the second or third game. I don’t know that. But percentages probably lean against doing that and letting the other guys — we’ve got new people in those other positions and behind him that need some work. And so the more reps they get, the better.”

Mahomes addressed the idea of preseason football amid his opening remarks in St. Joseph.

“I think we’ll just see when we get there,” Mahomes said. “I’m a competitor. So, game day, I’m going to want to be out there, but I understand the process of getting myself ready to play, and the regular season is more important. But we will see.

“The coaches and docs will kind of make that decision for me, but I’ll prepare myself like I am going to play, and then if I’m doing just a very hard warmup, I will take that as serious as playing the preseason game.”

With Mahomes likely out of the lineup, Justin Fields is in line to start, with rookie Garrett Nussmeier also expected to see time in the game.