The Kansas City Chiefs are rolling into Seattle for a late-night preseason clash at Lumen Field on August 15. It’s the second week of the NFL’s summer warm-up, and while the score won’t count in the standings, the performances might shape depth charts for weeks to come.
For Kansas City fans hoping to see Patrick Mahomes in extended action–don’t get your hopes too high. The reigning Super Bowl champ looked sharp last week against the Arizona Cardinals, tossing a touchdown before handing things off to the backups. Head coach Andy Reid hinted that this might be another light night for his MVP, saying earlier this week, “There’s a good chance he doesn’t (play)… we’ll see how it goes.”
If Mahomes sits, the Chiefs will turn to Gardner Minshew, Chris Oladokun, and Bailey Zappe. That gives them a chance to fine-tune the passing game with the second- and third-string receivers while keeping their star QB healthy.
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The Seahawks are taking a different approach. Mike Macdonald’s first preseason at the helm started with most starters watching from the sidelines in last week’s 23-23 tie with the Raiders. This time, the plan is to let them loose–at least for a bit. Geno Smith and Jaxon Smith-Njigba are expected to be on the field, though Cooper Kupp’s workload is still to be decided.
Behind those names, there’s a wide-open race for the No. 3 receiver spot. Rookie Tory Horton, who found the end zone last week, is making a strong case. Marquez Valdes-Scantling brings veteran speed and playoff experience, but Jake Bobo,Dareke Young, Cody White, rookie Ricky White III, and return specialist Steve Sims are all looking to turn preseason snaps into a regular-season roster slot.
Special teams might be the deciding factor. As The Athletic noted this week, Seattle’s staff is weighing kick coverage, return skills, and versatility just as much as receiving stats.
Kansas City has its own offensive questions. The team is assessing depth at receiver, the chemistry between quarterbacks and reserves, and tweaks to the offensive line. This is also a big test for the Chiefs’ young secondary, which got valuable reps last week against Arizona’s backups.
Seattle’s defense is still adjusting to Macdonald’s scheme, with particular attention on linebacker communication and gap discipline. Expect a mix of starters and reserves in rotation through the first half before the coaching staff turns it over to the hopefuls.