After winning his second Super Bowl in six years, how likely are we to see Patrick Mahomes in the Kansas City Chiefs‘ first preseason game of 2023? With the Chiefs taking on the New Orleans Saints this Sunday afternoon, here is all we know about the chances of Mahomes making an appearance.
Will Patrick Mahomes Play in Preseason Game 1?
According to Andy Reid, the available Chiefs starters, including Mahomes, are tabbed to play at least a quarter against the Saints on Sunday.
#Chiefs HC Andy Reid said Patrick Mahomes and the rest of their available offensive starters will play roughly a quarter in Sunday's preseason opener against the #Saints.
Reid has been a believer in playing starters in the preseason. pic.twitter.com/1gPLD5eSAt
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) August 11, 2023
Even fresh off another Super Bowl victory and having the best quarterback in the game on your team, Reid remains a strong believer in giving his starters preseason snaps to work off the rust in hopes of having them at their best come Week 1.
Some around the NFL feel that it may be a dangerous game to put your superstars on the field in a meaningless football game, but this is a philosophy that Reid has followed throughout his career. And as of late, it’s hard to disagree with the results.
How To Watch Kansas City Chiefs at New Orleans Saints
- Start time: 1 p.m ET
- Channel: NFL Network and NFL+
Who Will Play After Patrick Mahomes?
After Mahomes completes his first-quarter action, the game will be turned over to the other quarterbacks on Kansas City’s roster to lead the offense — starting with QB2 and long-time NFL veteran Blaine Gabbert. Gabbert has spent the last three seasons backing up Tom Brady in Tampa Bay and is now turning the page to Kansas City to play behind another NFL great quarterback.
Following Gabbert, the projected next man up is the third-year QB out of SMU, Shane Buechele. Buechele has not logged any regular-season snaps so far in his career, but the work he gets in the preseason will go a long way in extending his NFL career and a great audition campaign to either stay in Kansas City or look to be picked up by any of the other 31 NFL teams.
The fourth and final quarterback slated to get preseason action for the Chiefs is second-year, seventh-round pick Chris Oladokun out of South Dakota State. This will be Oladokun’s second chance at preseason NFL action, and although it may be a small sample size, it will still serve as an important opportunity. His preseason action will give K.C. the opportunity to evaluate and develop the young signal-caller after he spent all of last season on the Chiefs’ practice squad.