Chiefs News: The more Patrick Mahomes practices, the better he feels

We are officially two weeks away from the beginning of the 2026 NFL season. The Seattle Seahawks will host the New England Patriots on Wednesday, September 9th. The Kansas City Chiefs will play on "Monday Night Football" five days later.

With each day, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is nearing clearance to play in Week 1.

Patrick Mahomes feeling 'great,' on track to start Week 1 | ESPN

"Being able to go out there, day after day, and have the grind of a camp, that can even be harder than the [regular] season," Mahomes said Tuesday. "It's been awesome for me to be able to do that. It's exciting. I didn't know if I was going to have to take days off, but my body has responded the right way. "Honestly, the more we practice, the better I feel." In practices, Mahomes has continued to increase his mobility, whether working on his footwork within the pocket or when he scrambles during 11-on-11 repetitions.

"Being able to go out there, day after day, and have the grind of a camp, that can even be harder than the [regular] season," Mahomes said Tuesday. "It's been awesome for me to be able to do that. It's exciting. I didn't know if I was going to have to take days off, but my body has responded the right way.

"Honestly, the more we practice, the better I feel."

In practices, Mahomes has continued to increase his mobility, whether working on his footwork within the pocket or when he scrambles during 11-on-11 repetitions.

Chiefs acquire offensive lineman Josh Ezeudu from Giants. Here's what to know | The Kansas City Star

In March, the Giants re-signed Ezeudu to a one-year, $1.3 million contract. This preseason, new Giants head coach John Harbaugh worked Ezeudu at right tackle and right guard, hoping he could be a backup option for New York at both right-side positions. Ezeudu was kicked in the back of the leg in the Giants' preseason game against the Miami Dolphins on Saturday, but the team described him as day to day before the trade. One of the Chiefs' pressing needs approaching roster cuts was interior depth along the offensive line beyond left guard Kingsley Suamataia and right guard Trey Smith.

In March, the Giants re-signed Ezeudu to a one-year, $1.3 million contract. This preseason, new Giants head coach John Harbaugh worked Ezeudu at right tackle and right guard, hoping he could be a backup option for New York at both right-side positions.

Ezeudu was kicked in the back of the leg in the Giants' preseason game against the Miami Dolphins on Saturday, but the team described him as day to day before the trade.

One of the Chiefs' pressing needs approaching roster cuts was interior depth along the offensive line beyond left guard Kingsley Suamataia and right guard Trey Smith.

Which NFL win total projections are too low, too high or just right? | The Athletic

Kansas City Chiefs Projected wins: 9.6 Verdict: Just right I've had the Chiefs somewhere around 11 wins for a while, but their razor-thin depth at offensive line and wide receiver also lowers the potential floor here. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes should be back in Week 1 from his December knee surgery, though, and Kansas City won't go 1-9 again in one-score games as it did in 2025. The Chiefs competing for an AFC West title somewhere around 10-7 seems like a reasonable expectation to me. — Jesse Newell

I've had the Chiefs somewhere around 11 wins for a while, but their razor-thin depth at offensive line and wide receiver also lowers the potential floor here. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes should be back in Week 1 from his December knee surgery, though, and Kansas City won't go 1-9 again in one-score games as it did in 2025. The Chiefs competing for an AFC West title somewhere around 10-7 seems like a reasonable expectation to me. — Jesse Newell

Chiefs LB continues partnership with Minsky's for pizza to benefit Kansas City kids | KCTV 5

Tranquill and Minsky's Pizza unveiled "Zone 23″ Tuesday evening at Operation Breakthrough. The outdoor sports activity area is funded by the "Tranquillo Crunch" pizza sold by Minsky's. The pizza, crafted by Tranquill and sold at Minsky's for the last two seasons, has raised more than $150,000 for the nonprofit. "I think it's just a great opportunity for kids to compete against each other, create memories, get out here, create friendships and just get after it," Tranquill told KCTV. "It's a fun space and they really did a nice job."

Tranquill and Minsky's Pizza unveiled "Zone 23″ Tuesday evening at Operation Breakthrough. The outdoor sports activity area is funded by the "Tranquillo Crunch" pizza sold by Minsky's.

The pizza, crafted by Tranquill and sold at Minsky's for the last two seasons, has raised more than $150,000 for the nonprofit.

"I think it's just a great opportunity for kids to compete against each other, create memories, get out here, create friendships and just get after it," Tranquill told KCTV. "It's a fun space and they really did a nice job."

Jeff Caldwell goes unclaimed on waivers and reverts to Kansas City Chiefs' injured reserve; here's what can happen next | A to Z Sports

The first option to discuss is the injured-reserve stash. Caldwell can choose to stay on injured reserve for the entire 2026 NFL season. It will effectively be a redshirt season for him, where he can get healthy and turn his attention to 2027. This is usually the best option for long-term development, but it can also delay the inevitable. That happened last season with UDFA LB Brandon George . The Chiefs released George before 2026 OTAs even began. The second option is to agree to an injury settlement and join another team once he's healthy. The Chiefs have five days to offer Caldwell an injury settlement. They have to pay him for the games he'll miss with his knee hyperextension. Then they would release him from injured reserve. At that point, he'd be allowed to sign with 31 other NFL teams, but would be unable to sign to the 53-man roster in Kansas City.

The first option to discuss is the injured-reserve stash. Caldwell can choose to stay on injured reserve for the entire 2026 NFL season. It will effectively be a redshirt season for him, where he can get healthy and turn his attention to 2027. This is usually the best option for long-term development, but it can also delay the inevitable. That happened last season with UDFA LB Brandon George . The Chiefs released George before 2026 OTAs even began.

The second option is to agree to an injury settlement and join another team once he's healthy. The Chiefs have five days to offer Caldwell an injury settlement. They have to pay him for the games he'll miss with his knee hyperextension. Then they would release him from injured reserve. At that point, he'd be allowed to sign with 31 other NFL teams, but would be unable to sign to the 53-man roster in Kansas City.

Chiefs On SI Mailbag: Who Are Kansas City's Most Irreplacable Players? | Sports Illustrated

Benson's limited work at right guard in the preseason opener showed promise, and playing guard could allow him to use his physical tools without having his weaknesses exposed as glaringly as they were against the Buccaneers. The Chiefs' best backup center is still 2024 fifth-round pick Hunter Nourzad , but I could build the case that Benson has the highest ceiling of any of the team's backup interior offensive linemen. Benson still seems to be the Chiefs' sixth-favorite lineman behind the five presumed starters, and any role along those lines would still be a huge win for an undrafted rookie who didn't sign to the roster until May 4. — Brisco

Gonzalez focused on season, but irked by talks with Patriots | ESPN

"It's frustrating, but I'm focused on the season. I'm focused on here now," he said after practice Tuesday. That was a point Gonzalez repeated multiple times, as he highlighted the importance of preparing for a Super Bowl LX rematch against the Seattle Seahawks while referencing twice how the situation has lingered for months. "I'm focused on Week 1 at this point. I mean, it's been all offseason, so I feel like the line of today is, 'It is what it is,'" Gonzalez said when asked if he's still optimistic a deal will be completed.

"It's frustrating, but I'm focused on the season. I'm focused on here now," he said after practice Tuesday.

That was a point Gonzalez repeated multiple times, as he highlighted the importance of preparing for a Super Bowl LX rematch against the Seattle Seahawks while referencing twice how the situation has lingered for months.

"I'm focused on Week 1 at this point. I mean, it's been all offseason, so I feel like the line of today is, 'It is what it is,'" Gonzalez said when asked if he's still optimistic a deal will be completed.

Sean McVay has plans for Rams if Aaron Donald is here 'and if he's not' | NFL.com

"We've had plans if he's there, and if he's not," McVay said Tuesday, via the Los Angeles Times. "Our thought process has been, 'let's look at a 53 with him and a 53 not including him and what does that look like. Whenever a decision is made, if that is the direction he goes where he wants to play, then we have plans accordingly and if not we have plans for those as well." Contingency plans are common at this time of the season, especially as general managers are confronted with difficult decisions that must be made within the constraints of a 53-man roster. Los Angeles' is unique in that it will have one for the potential return of a franchise legend, but otherwise, it's business as usual.

"We've had plans if he's there, and if he's not," McVay said Tuesday, via the Los Angeles Times.

"Our thought process has been, 'let's look at a 53 with him and a 53 not including him and what does that look like. Whenever a decision is made, if that is the direction he goes where he wants to play, then we have plans accordingly and if not we have plans for those as well."

Contingency plans are common at this time of the season, especially as general managers are confronted with difficult decisions that must be made within the constraints of a 53-man roster. Los Angeles' is unique in that it will have one for the potential return of a franchise legend, but otherwise, it's business as usual.

Kyle Shanahan: Jed York's arrest "has no effect on us" | Pro Football Talk

"I got to talk to Jed the last two days and today," Shanahan said. "Obviously, it's a very tough situation. I mean, views for the organization going forward is the same as usual. There won't be any difference in that, but I know it's extremely fresh. I think it's a very, very personal situation. I've got a lot of respect for Jed. I got a lot of respect for Danielle [York]. Their family does mean a lot to me. So, with it being this personal, I'm trying as hard as I can to keep it that way." Shanahan added that the situation is "irrelevant" to players, especially since York has been living in Ohio and absent from training camp.

"I got to talk to Jed the last two days and today," Shanahan said. "Obviously, it's a very tough situation. I mean, views for the organization going forward is the same as usual. There won't be any difference in that, but I know it's extremely fresh. I think it's a very, very personal situation. I've got a lot of respect for Jed. I got a lot of respect for Danielle [York]. Their family does mean a lot to me. So, with it being this personal, I'm trying as hard as I can to keep it that way."

Shanahan added that the situation is "irrelevant" to players, especially since York has been living in Ohio and absent from training camp.

In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride

Steve Spagnuolo still figuring out Chiefs' secondary through injuries

"LJ was always a lot like Trent [McDuffie]," Spagnuolo pointed out. "LJ was always effective inside, but when we needed him to match up on somebody outside, that kind of dictated it, so that same thing might happen. We'll see where the other guys are." Just because we haven't seen No. 38 out on the field with the Chiefs' defense much this preseason doesn't mean he'll be on the sidelines once the live bullets start flying.

"LJ was always a lot like Trent [McDuffie]," Spagnuolo pointed out. "LJ was always effective inside, but when we needed him to match up on somebody outside, that kind of dictated it, so that same thing might happen. We'll see where the other guys are."

Just because we haven't seen No. 38 out on the field with the Chiefs' defense much this preseason doesn't mean he'll be on the sidelines once the live bullets start flying.