Andy Reid Says Mahomes Unlikely to Play in Chiefs' Preseason Opener vs. Rams
Andy Reid says Patrick Mahomes will likely sit out Kansas City's first preseason game against the Rams.
Patrick Mahomes, despite participating fully in every aspect of Chiefs training camp, is unlikely to take the field when Kansas City opens its preseason against the Los Angeles Rams next week. Head coach Andy Reid made the acknowledgment on Friday, a common approach for teams protecting their franchise quarterbacks from unnecessary preseason risk. The decision follows a standard NFL practice of limiting starter exposure in exhibition games, particularly for high-value players. Mahomes, the Chiefs' Super Bowl-winning quarterback, has been active and healthy throughout camp, making the absence a precautionary one rather than injury-related. Separately, wide receiver Stefon Diggs is joining the Washington Commanders, his third team in three years, and has been publicly confident about his fit with the new squad.
Why it matters
Preseason starter decisions can signal a coaching staff's confidence in its depth and scheme readiness. For Kansas City, how the backup quarterback situation is managed will be closely watched by fans and analysts heading into the regular season.
What's next
The Chiefs' preseason opener against the Rams is scheduled for next week.
Key facts
- Andy Reid confirmed Friday that Mahomes is unlikely to play in the preseason opener
- The Chiefs' first preseason game is against the Los Angeles Rams
- Mahomes has participated in every part of training camp and is healthy
- Stefon Diggs is joining the Washington Commanders, his third NFL team in three years
Bias & framing notes
Both sources are from ESPN, meaning there is no independent corroboration from a separate outlet. The two items are also loosely related — one covers Mahomes/Chiefs, the other Diggs/Commanders — rather than being reports on a single unified event, which limits narrative depth. No conflicting facts are present, but the single-outlet sourcing prevents a higher trust score.
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