Andy Reid’s first preseason script against the Rams did not exactly scream offensive makeover.
Kansas City spent the offseason talking up a more balanced attack, a stronger run game and more work under center. The goal was clear enough: take some pressure off Patrick Mahomes and make the offense less predictable after the last couple of seasons brought plenty of struggles. But when the Chiefs finally lined up for their first preseason game, the early playcalling looked a lot like what fans have seen before.
Reid had reason to keep a lot of the real stuff under wraps. Mahomes did not play, and the Chiefs also held out Travis Kelce, Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy and Kenneth Walker.
Walker, the team’s biggest offseason addition, was on the field for the first play and then was done for the day. With so many key pieces missing, it was never likely Kansas City would put its full 2026 offense on display.
Still, the opening drive offered a familiar snapshot. Justin Fields got one series with the starting offensive line, and it featured six plays.
Four of them were passes, and only one came from under center. For a team that has spent months talking about a renewed commitment to the ground game and more play action, that was not exactly a dramatic first look.
That doesn’t mean the offseason talk was empty, and it doesn’t mean panic is warranted. Preseason is preseason, and teams usually keep the good stuff tucked away. But if the Chiefs want to sell a tougher, more physical identity, there was at least a case to be made for showing a little more of it while the starters were on the field.
There was some of that later. Rookie Emmett Johnson got under-center carries and had some success, which at least gave a glimpse of what the new approach could look like. The question now is whether Reid will bring that same kind of playcalling into the next preseason game when the starting unit gets another chance.
Reid has long leaned on shotgun looks and a passing-first approach. That part of his coaching identity is not going anywhere overnight.
Talking about a bigger rushing emphasis is one thing. Actually calling it when a defense is lined up across from you is another.
So no, this wasn’t the moment to declare the Chiefs’ new offense a mirage. But if Week 1 of the regular season against the Denver Broncos opens with five shotgun plays in the first six snaps, then the conversation changes fast.
In Other News...
Chiefs Fans Facing Dangerous Arrowhead Heat For Saturday's Preseason Game
Saturdays preseason game at Arrowhead Stadium is shaping up to be a test of endurance before it is a test of football. With high temperatures and an even more punishing heat index expected, first responders are urging fans to treat the trip to the stadium like a serious heat safety event, not just another summer kickoff. The reminders are familiar but important: start hydrating early, keep water and electrolytes coming, and take advantage of any shade or cooling options available once inside.
For fans making the trek, the advice also includes easing up on alcohol and caffeine, both of which can make it harder to stay ahead of the heat. Stadium cooling stations are part of the plan, but the larger message is simple enough for a late-summer afternoon in Kansas City: prepare before you arrive, keep an eye on how you feel, and do not wait until you are already overheated to look for relief. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Could Find Tight End Help In One Overlooked Rams Battle
The Chiefs have spent enough time around training camp to know how quickly a tight end room can go from crowded to precarious, and the Rams are carrying one of those situations into the preseason. Los Angeles has a deep group at the position, with veterans and recent draft picks all pressing for roles, which means there are players on the bubble who may not get much room to breathe before roster decisions arrive.
One of them is Davis Allen, a fifth-round pick who has flashed as a blocker but has had limited chances to make his mark as a receiver because of the competition in front of him. Kansas City has reason to keep an eye on that matchup, especially as it looks for more help in tight end blocking, and the preseason meeting with the Rams offers a useful chance to see whether Allen fits that need if he becomes available. [Read more 🡒]
Ex Chiefs Safety Opens Up After Suspension And Painful Family Setback
Nazeeh Johnsons move away from Kansas City has already come with an unexpected hurdle, as the former Chiefs safety and cornerback, now with the Titans, was handed a six-game suspension by the NFL for violating the leagues PED policy. Johnson said the positive test stemmed from fertility medication he was taking while he and his wife were trying to conceive, and he said he was unaware the treatment contained a banned substance. It is the latest twist for a player who had carved out a role in Kansas City before seeking a fresh start elsewhere.
Johnson and his wife have also been open about the fertility challenges they have faced, adding a deeply personal layer to a situation that is usually discussed only through league discipline and roster fallout. The suspension has made an already difficult period even heavier, with the couples recent loss leaving the football side of the story secondary to everything happening off the field. For the Chiefs, it is a reminder that one of their former defensive backs is navigating far more than a standard NFL setback. [Read more 🡒]