Kahlil Benson’s NFL debut comes with a heavyweight assignment.
The undrafted rookie from national champion Indiana is set to start at left tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs in their opener Monday night, Sept. 14, against the Denver Broncos. That means Benson will be responsible for protecting the blind side of Patrick Mahomes, who is returning from an ACL tear.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid said the team is comfortable rolling with Benson if that’s the spot he needs to fill.
"We try to play the five best guys," Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. "We’re comfortable with Kahlil on either side and he’s been (practicing) the left side.
He’s doing a nice job with it. If he has to be the left tackle, he’s the left tackle and we roll with it.
That’s how that goes."
Expected starter Josh Simmons is doubtful because of a back injury.
Benson is one of several former Indiana players heading into Week 1 roles around the league. Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick, will open his career as the backup quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders behind Kirk Cousins.
Omar Cooper Jr., the No. 30 overall pick, is expected to start for the New York Jets when they visit the Tennessee Titans. Another Jets rookie, a second-round cornerback who missed most of training camp with a calf injury, has returned to practice.
Kaelon Black, a third-round pick by the San Francisco 49ers, is in line to back up Christian McCaffrey at running back. Elijah Sarratt, taken in the fourth round by the Baltimore Ravens, could see action against the Indianapolis Colts with Zay Flowers and Devontez Walker questionable.
Riley Nowakowski, a fifth-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers, has shifted from tight end at Indiana to fullback in Pittsburgh, where he’ll do plenty of blocking for Jaylen Warren and Aaron Rodgers. Pat Coogan, a sixth-round pick by the Tennessee Titans, is the backup center. Aiden Fisher, a seventh-round pick by the Houston Texans, may have a tough path to regular defensive snaps and could wind up as a key special teams player.
Week 1 is already underway, with the Seattle Seahawks beating the New England Patriots 13-10 on Wednesday, Sept. 9. The slate continues Thursday with San Francisco facing the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia, and rolls into Sunday’s full lineup, including the Jets-Titans, Ravens-Colts and Dolphins-Raiders matchups.
In Other News...
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McAteers night had a little of everything, missing an early PAT before later settling in and converting one. For Indiana, the bigger issue now is less about a single kick than how long it might have to manage without Radicic, with no clear return timeline yet available. [Read more 🡒]
Lee Corso Update Will Hit Florida State Fans Right In The Heart
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For Florida State fans, any Corso update carries its own weight, given how closely his voice has been tied to the broader history of college football Saturdays. Even after the final headgear pick in Columbus closed the book on his on-air run, Corsos presence still resonates, especially because he continues to stay mentally connected to the game despite a past stroke and the challenges that have limited his outings. [Read more 🡒]
Charlie Becker Is Becoming A Huge Factor In Indianas Title Push
Charlie Becker has quickly moved from promising receiver to one of the early reasons Indianas offense looks so dangerous again. The junior has opened the 2026 season in emphatic fashion, finding the end zone multiple times in the first two games and giving the Hoosiers another reliable weapon as they chase a second straight Big Ten title.
Against Howard, Becker did most of his damage before halftime, catching three touchdown passes in the first half and putting his name squarely in the middle of Indianas title conversation. For a team trying to defend its place atop the league, having another playmaker emerging this fast only raises the ceiling, and it is starting to look like Becker will be hard to ignore as the season unfolds. [Read more 🡒]