Andy Reid has finally broken his silence after the Kansas City Chiefs wrapped up a challenging 2025 season. Their 14-12 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders capped off a 6-11 record, marking their toughest season since 2012. Speaking at the Annual League Meeting in Phoenix, Reid touched on several key topics, including the addition of running back Kenneth Walker III and the departure of most of his starting secondary.
Naturally, the conversation with NFL Senior National Columnist Judy Battista began with the status of Patrick Mahomes. The star quarterback suffered a torn ACL and LCL in his left knee during a Week 15 clash with the Los Angeles Chargers. While Reid couldn't pinpoint exactly when Mahomes would return to full action, he expressed optimism about his recovery.
"He's doing great," Reid shared. "He's spending a lot of time in the building, around seven hours a day.
You can see the progress. As for a timeline, we'll have to see how things develop."
The aim is likely to have Mahomes ready for Week 1 in September. However, if he's not ready, Reid feels assured with Justin Fields stepping in as the new QB2.
In a recent trade, the Chiefs acquired Fields from the New York Jets, sending a 2027 sixth-round pick in exchange. With Gardner Minshew moving to the Arizona Cardinals, Fields comes in with a year left on a two-year, $40 million contract. He'll earn $3 million with the Chiefs, after receiving an $8 million signing bonus from the Jets.
Fields' performance last season wasn't as poor as some might think. Completing 62.7% of his passes for 1,259 yards, he threw seven touchdowns with just one interception over nine games. He also added 383 yards and four touchdowns on the ground, averaging 5.4 yards per carry.
While these numbers aren't groundbreaking, they highlight Fields' potential. His career has been a mix of highs and lows, showing flashes of the first-round talent the Chicago Bears saw in 2021, but also moments of struggle.
Despite the ups and downs, Fields' athleticism is undeniable. Reid conveyed confidence in Fields' ability to step up if Mahomes isn't ready by September, believing in his capacity to lead the team effectively.