Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs break new ground with an unprecedented move before the season

The NFL preseason reaches its finish line this weekend, meaning that the real action is under two weeks away, beginning with the opening game of the regular season, a Super Bowl rematch between the defending champion Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots at the champions' home venue, Lumen Field .

Notably, the Seahawks enter a brand-new era under new owners in the Khosla family , who purchased the franchise for an NFL-record $9.612 billion .

As the campaign draws closer, one of the most compelling storylines is how the Kansas City Chiefs plan to bounce back after experiencing their worst campaign since 2012 , which marked the first time in Patrick Mahomes ' career that he missed the playoffs following eight consecutive seasons as an opening-day starter, a stellar run featuring three Super Bowl rings .

Patrick Mahomes Sidelined for Entire Preseason

Throughout the first two games of the preseason, Mahomes has seen zero game action while continuing his structured recovery from a severe ACL and LCL tear suffered last December.

For the final exhibition matchup at Arrowhead Stadium against the Seahawks, head coach Andy Reid confirmed that rookie signal-caller Garrett Nussmeier would get the start and potentially play the entire contest after Chris Oladokun , who was initially expected to share reps, entered the concussion protocol.

This milestone marks the first time in Mahomes' professional life that he will not play a single snap during the preseason , a possibility Reid hinted at weeks ago by noting, "I mean, there's a pretty good chance where I don't play him."

While the superstar quarterback undoubtedly wanted to test his knee at full speed against live opposition before the high-stakes Monday Night Football opener against the Denver Broncos , their fiercest division rival following a shift that ended Kansas City's streak of nine consecutive division titles, ultimate caution prevailed within the coaching staff.

Rebuilding the Offensive Engine With Familiar Faces and Fresh Firepower

With zero preseason reps under his belt, all eyes will be glued to how Mahomes performs upon returning from his December 2025 injury setback. Statistically, his production dipped over the final three seasons prior to his absence, with none surpassing 27 touchdown passes or 4,200 passing yards , modest figures compared to the historic, record-shattering heights of his early years.

A major reason for optimism, alongside a boosted ground attack featuring Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III , is the triumphant return of former offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy to Kansas City.

Bieniemy was right by Mahomes' side during his first five seasons as a starter, a golden era where the quarterback played the best football of his life, hoisting two Lombardi Trophies, claiming a pair of MVP awards , and averaging nearly 5,000 passing yards alongside 38 touchdowns per season.