Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid indicated that star quarterback Patrick Mahomes is unlikely to play in the team's preseason opener. This decision comes as Mahomes continues his recovery from offseason surgery to repair a torn ACL and LCL in his left knee.
"There's a pretty good chance where I don't play him," Reid told reporters Friday. "The percentages are leading that way." Reid also suggested Mahomes might miss the subsequent two preseason games, though that decision remains undecided.
Sitting out all three preseason games would be a first for Mahomes in his nine-year NFL career. This comes as a surprise to some, as the three-time Super Bowl MVP has participated fully in all aspects of training camp thus far, leading the first-team offense in every 11-on-11 period. Despite wearing a large brace on his left knee, Mahomes has demonstrated his typical agility and scrambling ability during camp practices.
Mahomes himself has expressed a desire to compete, stating in July, "I'm a competitor, so [on] game day, I'm going to want to be out there." However, he also acknowledged the importance of the recovery process. "I understand the process of getting myself ready to play in the regular season is more important," he said. "The coaches and doctors will make that decision for me, but I'll prepare myself like I'm going to play."
The team plans to use the preseason games to give backup quarterback Justin Fields and rookie Garrett Nussmeier additional practice reps. Fields, who joined the Chiefs this offseason, recently took his first snaps with the first-team offense. "We've got new people behind [Mahomes] that need some work," Reid said. "The more reps they get, the better."
The Chiefs are scheduled to open their regular season on September 14 against the Denver Broncos.