Former LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier got his first taste of NFL preseason action on Saturday, and the Kansas City Chiefs rookie handled it cleanly enough in a 20-12 loss.
Nussmeier finished 13 of 19 for 98 yards. He was sacked twice, but he avoided the back-breaking mistake: no touchdown passes, no turnovers. For a first preseason outing, that kind of steady line matters.
The former LSU starter arrived in the league as the No. 249 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft after being projected much higher. Instead of hearing his name called earlier, he slid all the way to the seventh round, a fall that cost him money but landed him in what looks like a stable spot with the Chiefs and their established offensive staff.
At LSU, Nussmeier spent five seasons in Baton Rouge and took over as QB1 in 2024. Over his college career, he piled up 7,699 passing yards and 52 touchdowns while completing 64% of his throws and tossing 24 interceptions.
His final year with the Tigers was uneven. A lingering injury slowed him for much of the season, and LSU’s year never really found its footing. Nussmeier made his final LSU start against Alabama in early November, with Michael Van Buren finishing the season at quarterback.
On the field Saturday, there were a couple of flashes that fit what made him such an interesting prospect in the first place. In one play, Nussmeier escaped the pocket to his right and fired an accurate throw on the move. In another, he rolled right again and hit a receiver in stride, giving the wideout enough room to get both feet down and secure the catch.
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