Kansas City fans have been waiting all preseason to see Patrick Mahomes back in action, and Friday night at Arrowhead Stadium they’ll finally get their wish. After sitting out last week’s matchup in Seattle, head coach Andy Reid confirmed his starters including Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelceand Chris Jones will take the field against the Chicago Bears in the Chiefs’ preseason finale. The catch? Don’t expect them to stick around for long.
Andy Reid confirms Patrick Mahomes and starters will open the game against Chicago
Reid kept things simple when asked about his quarterback’s status: “Start. I’m going to just play it by ear. They’ll start it off. We’ll just see how it goes from there.” Translation: Patrick Mahomes will be out there with the first unit, but his playing time will depend on how quickly the team settles in.
It’s a classic Andy Reid move, giving the top guys a chance to knock off some rust, but not risk unnecessary injuries with the regular season less than two weeks away.
Patrick Mahomes has barely played in the preseason so far
Through two games, Patrick Mahomes has only thrown one pass back in Week 1 against the Arizona Cardinals. Sitting him, along with Travis Kelce and Chris Jones, in the second preseason game left fans antsy, but the long-term plan has always been about keeping the stars fresh for when it matters.Friday night’s appearance will likely be short and sweet, but even a handful of snaps gives Patrick Mahomes a chance to sharpen his timing with receivers and test the offensive line against live competition.The Chiefs aren’t trying to win preseason trophies, they’re trying to defend their championship window. That means careful management of their biggest names. Andy Reid’s strategy of mixing rest with targeted live reps ensures that players like Mahomes, Kelce, and Jones enter Week 1 healthy while still carrying some real-game rhythm.Fans shouldn’t expect a four-quarter performance, this is more like a warm-up. But even a brief glimpse of the two-time MVP should be enough to light up Arrowhead one last time before the season kicks off.The Bears game isn’t about the score, it’s about preparation. Coaches will evaluate depth, tweak rotations, and watch how the offense and defense settle in with the starters leading the way.For Mahomes, it’s one final chance to lock in before the Week 1 opener. And for the fans, it’s a short but sweet preview of the firepower that will carry Kansas City into another season chasing the Lombardi.Also read – Eric Dickerson claims NFL told teams not to draft Shedeur Sanders, fueling conspiracy around Browns rookie