The Chiefs are spending camp showing a different side of their offense, and Patrick Mahomes is right in the middle of it.
According to Nate Taylor of ESPN, Kansas City’s latest practice offered another look at the changes taking shape, with Mahomes spending more time under center during 11-on-11 work against the first-team defense. That’s a notable shift for a team that lined up in shotgun on 80.6 percent of its formations last season, the third-highest rate in the NFL.
The adjustment gives Andy Reid a better chance to see Kenneth Walker III in the kind of work he prefers most: running between the tackles. It also opens the door for more play-action looks with Mahomes, something the Chiefs are clearly exploring as camp ramps up.
For the offensive line, the change has brought a welcome wrinkle. Center Creed Humphrey said the under-center work has been a refreshing part of the process.
"Under center stuff is fun," Humphrey said. "When we get the chance to do it, I have a lot of fun with it. We're excited about what we're doing right now and where this offense is headed."
Humphrey also pointed to Walker’s versatility, including what he can add in the screen game. Taylor noted one play in which Walker was used as a receiver, even though that’s not usually seen as one of his strengths.
"He's a dynamic player, a freak athlete and great with his reads," Humphrey said of Walker, and he also followed up with a note on the screen game specifics. "It's just focusing on the details in practice, locking down exactly what we need to do and what we're trying to accomplish with each screen. We're getting the reps [we need] with the new backs just to get that cohesion."
There may be movement up front, too. Taylor reported that Kahlil Benson took first-team snaps at right tackle, which allowed veteran Jaylon Moore to shift to left tackle with the second unit.
In Other News...
Patrick Mahomes Camp Update Gives Chiefs Fans Real Hope And Tension
Patrick Mahomes is moving through camp in a way that should ease some nerves around Kansas City, even if it does not settle the biggest question hanging over the Chiefs summer. Andy Reid said the quarterback is progressing well in his recovery from a torn ACL and looks sharp in training camp, a welcome sign for a team that has spent months waiting to see how the comeback would unfold.
Andy Reid still stopped short of putting a timetable on the next step, saying he is working with the medical staff and would not commit to Mahomes playing in the preseason or Week 1. Mahomes has already set his own target for a return against the Broncos, and for now the gap between what the quarterback wants and what the team is willing to promise is where the real tension sits. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Rookies Are Forcing Two Important Camp Questions
Kansas Citys training camp is putting a couple of rookies under the microscope, with the coaching staff watching closely as roster decisions start to take shape. Mansoor Delane remains active in practice, but he is working with clear limitations, which has made his early camp workload a little different from the rest of the defensive backs. Meanwhile, offensive tackle Kahlil Benson has been getting more snaps as the Chiefs look for answers along the line and try to see how he holds up when the pace picks up.
Bensons expanded run matters because the Chiefs are not just judging whether he can survive practice reps, but whether he can handle the longer stretches that come with preseason action and, eventually, real game situations. Delanes situation is a separate test, one that keeps him involved while the staff manages his workload, and both cases speak to the same larger camp theme for Kansas City: the rookies are being evaluated in ways that could shape how the depth chart looks when the season arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Travis Kelce Faces One Big Chiefs Question Entering Year 14
Travis Kelce is heading into his 14th season with the Chiefs after agreeing to a deal for the 2026 campaign, and the move quieted at least one of the offseason questions hanging over Kansas City. General manager Brett Veach said Kelce let the organization know soon after last season ended that he intended to return, giving the team clarity on one of its most familiar and important pieces.
Even with some fan concern sparked by social media photos, Kelces 2025 season suggested there is still plenty left in the tank. He remained productive and is expected to keep contributing to a Chiefs offense that has leaned on his presence for years, making the bigger question less about whether he is coming back and more about how much he still has to give. [Read more 🡒]