Andy Reid Stays Coy on Patrick Mahomes for Chiefs' Opener vs Broncos
Mahomes has missed both preseason games and wanted to face Tampa, but Reid says he's taking it day by day with the Week 1 date looming Sept. 14.
No setback reported; he's the clear Week 1 starter unless that changes.
- Sat out both KC preseason games this summer
- Wanted to play vs Bucs; not cleared enough
- Opener is Sept. 14 vs Denver Broncos
- 2025: 3,587 pass yds, 22 TD, 0 INT, 304 PPR pts
- Our QB9, overall #19 heading into 2026
Andy Reid isn't handing out guarantees on Patrick Mahomes, even the obvious ones. The Chiefs coach said Monday that Mahomes was "probably not cleared enough" to face the Buccaneers over the weekend, and he flatly declined to make any prediction about the September 14 opener against the Broncos. Mahomes has now sat out both of Kansas City's preseason games.
The quarterback himself said during Saturday's game that he wanted to suit up against Tampa, and Reid confirmed as much. But Reid framed the whole thing as a day-by-day situation, saying he'd address the opener once the doctors, trainers and Mahomes himself all sign off. Translation: the medical box needs to be checked, but Mahomes feeling ready is the part that matters most.
For context on the stakes, Mahomes posted 3,587 passing yards, 22 touchdowns and — remarkably — zero interceptions across 14 games in the 2025 season, adding 422 rushing yards and five scores on the ground. That's 304 PPR points, actual, not projected. He enters 2026 as our QB9 and the No. 19 player overall.
Read Between the Lines
Reid's cautious tone reads more like a coach protecting his star than a genuine red flag. As long as there's no medical setback in the next couple of weeks, it's hard to picture anyone but Mahomes taking Kansas City's first snap of the season. Reid noted the backups have handled preseason reps well, but that's standard coach-speak, not a depth chart shakeup.
One thing worth flagging for those who chased his upside: Mahomes averaged 6.3 fewer fantasy points over his final five games last season (2025) versus his full-year mark. That's a mild cooling trend, not a collapse, and preseason rest shouldn't change your draft-day math.
The Fantasy Verdict
Hold the line. Mahomes remains a rock-solid QB1 in our 2026 rankings, and the missed preseason snaps are noise unless a setback surfaces. Don't reach for a Chiefs backup and don't slide Mahomes down your board — just keep an eye on the injury report as September 14 approaches. If he's a full go by Week 1, you plug him in and move on.
