ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (WIBW) - The 2nd week of Chiefs training camp contained a likely answer on Patrick Mahomes’ status for Kansas City’s preseason opener, rookie ascensions on each side of the line of scrimmage and returns from injury of two other key rookies.
“There’s a pretty good chance I don’t play him,” Chiefs head coach Andy Reid told reporters about Mahomes’ availability for KC’s first preseason game on Aug. 15. “Percentages are leaning that way. And I don’t know if I’ll play him the 2nd or the 3rd game. Percentages lean against doing that.”
Mahomes says he’s going to prepare for the Rams like it’s any other game.
“I’m gonna prepare like I’m going to play,” Mahomes said Saturday. “\[Reid\] hasn’t told me anything, so I’ll prepare to play and get myself ready. We’ll see where we go from there.”
Reid added that if Mahomes is held out, it would provide an opportunity for extra game reps for new faces in the quarterback room.
“I don’t know how much Coach Reid plans on showing,” backup quarterback Justin Fields said. “Whatever we get, just being able to get back to game time and getting that feeling, it should be fun.”
The Chiefs signed Fields over the offseason. The former first round pick spent the 2025 season with the New York Jets.
2026 draft pick Garrett Nussmeier is also expected to see playing time for his first taste of preseason action.
“One of the cool parts of playing quarterback is you can see things as much as you like, but you get better at playing quarterback from playing experiences in the game, going through real situations,” Nussmeier said.
Veteran QB Chris Oladokun is likely to earn some snaps on Saturday as well.
**Rookies Peter Woods, Kahlil Benson standing out**
The Chiefs selected Clemson DT Peter Woods with their second pick of the 1st round back in April’s NFL draft. Woods has only impressed ever since arriving to training camp. Woods was regarded as a top 5 draft prospect prior to his junior season and looks primed to return to that form as a rookie in the NFL.
On the other side of the line of scrimmage, undrafted rookie right tackle Kahlil Benson is breaking out as a potential starter on Kansas City’s offensive line. Benson has earned the bulk of first team snaps over Jaylon Moore since padded practice began on Monday. The Indiana product appears likely to start on Saturday.
**Cyrus Allen and Mansoor Delane return from injury, but Xavier Worthy does not**
Rookie WR Cyrus Allen hit the ground running to begin training camp, emerging as a prime target for Patrick Mahomes. The Cincinnati alum suffered a scary looking leg injury last weekend during special teams drills but was spared serious time on the sideline after being diagnosed with a bruised shin. Allen returned to practice on Saturday.
2026 6th-overall draft pick Mansoor Delane took off the non-contact yellow practice jersey for the first time at training camp on Saturday. Delane suffered a shoulder injury during OTAs in June.
2024 first rounder Xavier Worthy dealt with a nagging shoulder injury for all of last season, only for that same shoulder to be injured last weekend at training camp. It was reported just hours later that Worthy was expected to be okay, but he has yet to return to practice since.
The Chiefs open the 2026 preseason on Saturday, Aug. 15 against the Los Angeles Rams at Arrowhead Stadium.
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