Overview
- Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Tuesday there is a very good chance Patrick Mahomes will start Monday Night Football in Week 1 unless something changes in the next few days.
- Mahomes completed a nine-month rehab after tearing his ACL and LCL in mid-December, was cleared for full practice in July, has not missed a day of camp work and wore a brace while being held out of the preseason.
- Left tackle Josh Simmons is trending toward missing the opener because of a lingering back issue and Kansas City plans to have undrafted rookie Kahlil Benson slide into the left-tackle role if Simmons is unavailable.
- The matchup is a stiff test because Denver led the NFL in sacks last season with 68, so the Chiefs plan to rely more on run looks, quicker throws and protection-focused game plans to limit pressure on Mahomes.
- Kansas City enters Week 1 looking for a reset after a 6-11 2025 season, and how Benson and the reconfigured line perform could shape Mahomes' early-week playing time and the Chiefs' offensive outlook in the opening weeks.