Andy Reid may be heading into the Chiefs’ preseason finale with a much simpler quarterback plan than usual.
Instead of cycling through multiple passers, Kansas City could lean almost entirely on Garrett Nussmeier when it faces the Seahawks at Arrowhead Stadium. The seventh-round pick out of LSU is set to start, and Reid said Wednesday there’s a real chance he stays in the game the whole way.
“’Nuss’ is going to go, start the game,” Reid said.
That would be a change from the original setup, which had Nussmeier sharing work with Chris Oladokun. But Oladokun entered the concussion protocol after last week’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and did not practice this week, forcing the Chiefs to adjust on the fly.
Asked directly whether Nussmeier could go the distance Friday, Reid didn’t shut the door.
“There a chance.”
Patrick Mahomes is not expected to play. He has not appeared in the preseason, or in any game at all, since tearing his ACL and MCL in Week 14 last season.
Even so, he seems to be moving toward a return for the regular-season opener on Sept. 14.
That leaves Justin Field as the only other quarterback option. He was limited in practice this week and worked mostly with the scout team while Nussmeier handled most of the first-team reps.
Field has started both of Kansas City’s preseason games so far, playing the first quarter while Nussmeier and Oladokun handled the rest.
The Chiefs could use a different look in the finale, too, after dropping eight straight preseason games dating back to 2023.
Reid also ruled out several other players because of injuries. Running back Ken Walker III has missed a couple of practices this week with a swollen ankle because of his shoe, Reid said.
Also not expected to play are defensive end Ashton Gilllotte, safety Chamarri Conner, wide receiver Jimmy Holiday and offensive linemen Josh Simmons, Trey Smith and C.J. Hanson.
In Other News...
Chiefs Still Have One Big Question About LJarius Sneeds Return
LJarius Sneed is back in the building and back in a familiar place, which gives the Chiefs a notable addition to a secondary that already knows what he can bring. After spending the last two years with the Titans, the cornerback has returned to Kansas City while working his way back from a knee injury, and defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo said the progress has been encouraging. The benefit for the Chiefs is obvious: Sneed already knows the system, and his ability to handle different defensive jobs makes him one of the more natural fits on the roster.
The only real question now is how quickly he can get all the way to game-ready form for the regular-season opener. Recovery timelines can be tricky, especially for a player whose value comes not just from coverage but from the flexibility to move around the defense, and Kansas City will want to be careful with that process. For a team that brought him back for a reason, the setup is promising, but the final piece is still getting him to the point where the Chiefs can use him without limits. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Face A Brutal QB Decision As Cutdown Day Nears
As cutdown day approaches, the Chiefs are staring at one of the trickier roster questions on their table: whether to keep three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster. Patrick Mahomes is of course locked in, but the discussion now includes Justin Fields and Garrett Nussmeier, a setup that forces the team to balance quarterback depth against the demands of the rest of the roster.
Nussmeiers camp and preseason work has made that calculus more complicated than it looked a few weeks ago, giving Kansas City a young passer worth protecting. The problem is obvious - carrying him means spending a spot that could otherwise go to another contributor, while trying to sneak him onto the practice squad could leave him exposed to waivers and out of the Chiefs hands. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Just Added Another Young Pass Rusher Fighting For A Roster Spot
The Chiefs added another young body to the edge group this week, signing defensive end Niles King as a developmental depth player after he went undrafted out of San Diego State. Kansas City has made a habit of turning over the bottom of the roster with players who can compete, learn and maybe grow into something more, and King fits that mold as a pass rusher trying to carve out a place in a crowded room.
To make room, the Chiefs waived receiver Jeff Caldwell with an injury designation. Kings path has already included a stop with the Chargers before he was released and eventually landed in Kansas City, which gives him another chance to prove he belongs. For a team always looking for affordable help up front, the signing is the kind of low-risk move that can quietly matter if a young player flashes during camp. [Read more 🡒]