The Kansas City Chiefs haven't had the easiest start to 2026, going 0-2 through the preseason after missing the playoffs for the first time since 2014 last year. Still, some around the NFL aren't ready to write off Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid.

Mahomes is working his way back from the ACL and LCL injuries he suffered in December 2025, but he remains hopeful of returning for Kansas City's Week 1 matchup with the Denver Broncos.

“I really think number one is Andy and his competitiveness, the competitiveness of the quarterback,” coach Marvin Lewis said on August 28.

Mahomes wanted to play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday, but Reid decided against putting him on the field. He will also not play in Friday's preseason finale against the Seattle Seahawks, according to Clutch Points.

“But they still have Andy Reid, arguably the best head coach in football. They still have Patrick Mahomes, arguably, and I don’t know, it’s very arguable, the best quarterback in football in terms of accolades, stats, rewards, all this kind of stuff,” Trey Wingo said on August 28 on the Inside Football podcast.

With Mahomes sidelined, rookie Garrett Nussmeier is expected to start against Seattle. The seventh-round pick has taken first-team reps this week and has completed 22 of 36 passes for 172 yards in the preseason.

Justin Fields is also unlikely to play, while Chris Oladokun remains in concussion protocol.

“And they still have a really good offensive line. They added the Super Bowl MVP from the Seattle Seahawks, Kenneth Walker at running back, which gives Patrick Mahomes a real running game for the first time since he’s been the quarterback," Wingo added.

For Kansas City, though, the bigger picture remains Sept. 14. That is when Mahomes hopes to return, and the Chiefs finally get their season underway.

With Mahomes working his way back, the Chiefs are also looking at ways to make the offense around him more effective.

Patrick Mahomes has a new weapon to work with

The Kansas City Chiefs are trying to give their offense a different look after a 6-11 season that saw them miss the playoffs for the first time in Patrick Mahomes’ career.

“No. 9. That’s all I can say,” Mahomes said, according to Marca. “[He can] make a play out of nothing into a 20-yard gain. That’s going to be the biggest impact, I think, we’ll have — just finding the ways to get him the ball.”

Mahomes operated from the shotgun on 80.6 percent of Kansas City’s non-kneel-down snaps last season, but the arrival of Kenneth Walker III could give the Chiefs more reason to work from under center.

“Well, play-action has always been a big part of this offense. We look at the production of it. What are you getting out of it [on film]? You might as well just dropback and forget about the play-action,” Andy Reid said.

With Walker now in the backfield, the Chiefs are hoping their run game can make those Mahomes fakes mean a little more in 2026.

Written by

Debanjali Rakshit

Edited by

Debanjali Rakshit