Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid signaled Friday that Patrick Mahomes will not play in the team’s preseason opener Saturday, with the numbers tilting firmly toward a night off for the two-time NFL MVP.
Reid stopped short of ruling Mahomes out entirely for the following two exhibition games as well, framing the decision as part of a broader plan to get Chiefs’ backup quarterbacks meaningful snaps before the season begins.
Mahomes tore his ACL and LCL late in a Week 15 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on December 14, eliminating Kansas City from the playoffs for the first time since he became the starter. He had reconstructive surgery within a day of the injury and began an intensive rehab that stretched into training camp, with reports describing workouts running as long as seven hours a day during the offseason.
Patrick Mahomes’ Preseason Status With the Chiefs
Speaking to reporters at training camp in St. Joseph, Missouri, Reid said the percentages are leaning toward holding Mahomes out against the Los Angeles Rams on August 15, according to Arrowhead Addict writer Matt Conner. Reid also said he remains undecided on whether Mahomes plays in the second or third preseason games, noting the Chiefs have new depth behind their starter who also need the preseason reps.
Reid’s caution comes from the quarterback’s health, not any reported injury setback. Mahomes has practiced in full padded sessions throughout camp, including 11-on-11 work, after Kansas City fully cleared him to participate in training camp in late July, according to NFL.com‘s Nick Shook. No new limitations have surfaced since, and Reid has repeatedly described his quarterback’s movement and leg strength in positive terms through camp.
Sitting out exhibition football is nothing new for a franchise quarterback returning from a major knee surgery, and Kansas City has made clear it views preseason reps as secondary to a full-strength return in September. The bigger priority, Reid indicated, is building experience behind Mahomes on the depth chart, since whoever backs him up this fall will need to be ready on short notice if called upon, given the nature of Mahomes’ injury.
Chiefs vs. Rams Preseason Opener
Kansas City opens its exhibition slate at home against the Los Angeles Rams. Here’s what fans need to know…
- Date: Saturday, August 15, 2026
- Location: GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Kickoff: 3:00 p.m. CDT / 4:00 p.m. ET
- Local broadcast: KSHB 41 and 96.5 The Fan
Mahomes has already set his sights past the preseason entirely, saying he plans to be ready for Kansas City’s regular-season opener against the defending AFC West champion Denver Broncos on Monday, September 14.
Mahomes has struck an optimistic tone about where his knee stands. He called the return to full practice a checkpoint he had been working toward since surgery, saying the goal now shifts to building strength week by week so he can be ready when the regular season begins.
Reid has echoed that target while declining to promise anything. The coach said the team will evaluate Mahomes day by day heading toward Week 1, a deliberate approach designed to protect a quarterback seven months removed from major knee surgery. Kansas City’s preseason plan now looks built entirely with that September date in mind, with exhibition snaps against the Rams, and potentially the following two opponents, treated as optional insurance rather than a requirement for a quarterback the Chiefs need healthy for a much bigger fight ahead.
Will Patrick Mahomes Play in Chiefs’ Preseason Opener? Andy Reid Updates Status