The Kansas City Chiefs have fallen just short of officially declaring Patrick Mahomes a non-participant in the preseason, but the former league MVP said he’s ready either way.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has strongly hinted that Mahomes will not see any playing time in the team’s three preseason games, keeping him and his surgically repaired knee fresh until the start of the regular season. That would mark the first time in his career that Mahomes has been held out from preseason action.
Patrick Mahomes Ready for Any Decision
Speaking to reporters this week, Mahomes said he’s good defering to Reid’s judgment on the preseason. Mahomes said he would be prepared to play, but would be find sitting the bench as well.
“I’m for whatever coach says,” Mahomes said, via SI.com “Like I said, I’m going to prepare to play. He hasn’t told me anything, so I’ll prepare to play and prepare to get myself ready. We’ll see where we go from there and if not, I’ll be as locked in as I am during the game and try to get myself as ready to go [as possible] for the game. It’s just a process of trying to make sure you’re ready for the season and whatever coach thinks is best, I’ll do it.”
As SI.com noted, Mahomes is aware that he could be in uncharted territory. He had always been healthy going into training camp before this year, and though he has been cleared to participate in practice in full, the team is still playing it safe after his season-ending torn ACL last year.
“I don’t know, I haven’t done it before,” Mahomes said of the possibility that he could sit out the preseason. “But I’ll be ready to play, I know that. That’s just how you have to go about it â whenever the opportunity comes up to go out there and play football, you have to go out there and maximize it.”
Chiefs Have Other Quarterback Decision to Make
The Chiefs could use the preseason to decide the pecking order behind Mahomes. The team brought in some additional help during the offseason, when it was still unclear whether he would be healthy in time to start the season. They traded for veteran Justin Fields and used a seventh-round draft pick on once-heralded quarterback prospect Garrett Nussmeier.
Nussmeier has shown some strong potential, leading Chiefs insiders to predict the team will keep him on the active roster rather than risking losing him on the waiver wire to get him through to the practice squad.
The rookie quarterback said he’s been learning a lot at training camp so far.
âItâs an awesome experience,â Nussmeier said. âIâm super grateful to be here. This is something Iâve dreamed about my entire life. At the end of the day, Iâm super blessed and am super grateful that Iâm in the NFL. I thank God each and every day when I wake up that this is my life right now. I try to make the most of it. Itâs definitely different. Itâs a little bit of a humbling experience, but itâs awesome.â
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