The Kansas City Chiefs have spent training camp trying to sort through injuries, recoveries and a few lingering questions, but the early signs have been mostly encouraging. The biggest reason for optimism is Patrick Mahomes, who looks far more like himself than someone working back from major knee surgery.
Mahomes missed the final weeks of the 2025 season after tearing his left ACL and LCL, and while he is not expected to play in the preseason, the reports coming out of camp have painted a strong picture. NFL.com’s Kevin Patra summed it up this way: “I think it's safe to declare Patrick Mahomes completely fine,” Patra wrote Thursday. “Every report out of camp reads like he isn't coming off a nasty knee injury, so why should we fret?”
That matches what has shown up in the clips circulating from practice. Mahomes has looked sharp, and while the Chiefs are still being careful with him with the regular season about a month away, the brace on his knee remains noticeable. Even so, the expectation appears to be that he’ll be ready for Week 1.
Rashee Rice is another name to watch. The receiver took part in team drills on Wednesday, but then left practice on Saturday with a trainer. It’s not clear whether that was part of a planned workload or something more concerning, but based on his route-running so far, he still doesn’t seem to be all the way back to 100 percent.
That matters because the Chiefs are already dealing with a lot in the receiver room, and any setback there would be unwelcome.
On the other side of the ball, there’s been a lot to like about first-round defensive tackle Peter Woods. With pads on, he has stood out as a force, repeatedly overpowering offensive linemen and looking like a player who could make an immediate impact.
One of those reps came against undrafted rookie lineman Kahlil Benson, who Patra believes could be in the mix for the starting right tackle job. Benson was working at right guard on that play and held his ground, winning the rep against Woods.
The Chiefs’ first preseason game is set for Aug. 15 at 3 p.m. CDT, when they host the Los Angeles Rams.
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For the Chiefs, the question is less about the talent and more about how quickly it translates. Woods brings the kind of upside that can reshape a defensive line if he settles in, but rookie seasons rarely follow a straight line, especially for interior linemen asked to adjust to the pro game. There is optimism here, of course, but also some reason for caution as Kansas City tries to turn a promising draft pick into a real difference-maker. [Read more 🡒]
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Chiefs Rookie QB Is Giving Fans A Reason To Pay Attention
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For a late-round rookie, the challenge is less about making noise and more about stacking steady progress before the preseason arrives. Nussmeier has leaned on the football background he grew up around, with his father, Doug Nussmeier, helping shape that foundation as a former NFL quarterback and now the offensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints. The next step is translating those habits into more consistent camp reps, and that is where the attention around him will keep building. [Read more 🡒]