Patrick Mahomes’ recovery from the torn ACL and LCL in his left knee continues to trend in the right direction as the Kansas City Chiefs prepare for the 2026 season. Mahomes has been progressing ahead of expectations throughout his rehabilitation and is on pace to start the regular season opener against the Denver Broncos.
Mahomes did not play in Kansas City’s preseason opener against the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday, with head coach Andy Reid previously indicating there was a good chance his star quarterback would sit out the preseason opener (h/t Nate Taylor of ESPN). Reid has still not committed to playing Mahomes at any point during the preseason, suggesting the Chiefs will remain cautious with their franchise quarterback.
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Mahomes’ recovery, however, has not stopped the Chiefs from considering a notable roster decision. Assistant general manager Mike Bradway suggested Wednesday Kansas City could keep three quarterbacks on its 53-man roster this season.
He confirmed that the potential move is not because of concerns surrounding Mahomes, but because Justin Fields and seventh-round pick Garrett Nussmeier have given the team reasons to keep both behind him (h/t Charles Goldman of A to Z Sports).
Fields started against the Rams and completed all four of his passes for 41 yards during his limited appearance. Nussmeier then took over and impressed in his NFL debut, completing 13 of 19 passes for 98 yards while leading an 11-play, 51-yard scoring drive that ended with Harrison Butker’s 59-yard field goal.
Nussmeier’s performance particularly stood out to Reid, who praised the rookie’s composure and ability to handle difficult down-and-distance situations. The Chiefs ultimately lost 20-12, but their quarterback depth provided one of the brighter takeaways from the opener.
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In the meantime, Mahomes remains the clear QB1, with Fields and Nussmeier competing for their places behind him. Kansas City will face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday in its second preseason game, giving both quarterbacks another opportunity to strengthen the case for staying on the 53-man roster.
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