Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes value reward of preseason action – ESPN – Kansas City Chiefs Blog

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid has his plan to get quarterback Patrick Mahomes and different key gamers ready for the common season, and the chance of subjecting them to the chance of harm doesn’t intervene.

In an period when some prime quarterbacks don’t play within the preseason, Mahomes and the opposite Chiefs’ starters will play the primary half in Saturday’s exhibition sport in opposition to the Arizona Cardinals.

“It is all half of the sport,’’ Reid mentioned. “They have to prepare for the (common season). I believe it is robust going into the primary sport. It is going to be quick, a lot quicker than what you possibly can current at observe.

“(A preseason sport) at the very least is one other step up from (observe) and provides you just a bit kick up velocity-sensible of the sport.’’

Reid went on to say he may pull Mahomes from the sport sooner than deliberate if the Cardinals take away their defensive starters shortly and he doesn’t really feel Mahomes is getting good work.

Mahomes performed simply six snaps in final week’s preseason opener in opposition to the New Orleans Saints. Tight finish Travis Kelce performed 5. Reid left the beginning offensive line within the sport for 3 performs with backup quarterback Blaine Gabbert, after which these gamers had been executed for the day.

The one drive with Mahomes at quarterback ended with a failed fourth-down conversion try. By the point Reid pulled the starters on each side of the ball, the Chiefs trailed 14-0.

The backups later rallied the Chiefs into the lead however the Saints gained on a walkoff discipline purpose.

“Simply higher vitality, higher urgency simply from the get-go,’’ Mahomes mentioned of what he’s on the lookout for from the Chiefs in Arizona. “It is a preseason sport, and clearly the outcomes do not essentially matter. However they do if you wish to be construct a tradition of profitable, and we’ve got quite a bit of younger guys, and regardless that they gained a Tremendous Bowl, they must know tips on how to reply and get even higher the second 12 months.’’

Mahomes has mentioned he likes enjoying within the preseason, indicating he feels it’s good preparation, and up to date historical past suggests Reid’s technique could also be working..

The Chiefs have scored 33, 42, 38, 40, 34, 33 and 44 factors of their final seven season openers. They began a season 4-0 or 5-0 in 4 of the final six seasons. The Chiefs had been 9-0 at one level in 2013, Reid’s first season as their coach.

If kind holds, the sport in Arizona would be the final work for Mahomes and the opposite starters within the preseason. Reid has normally held starters from the ultimate exhibition sport, which this 12 months for the Chiefs is on Aug. 26 in opposition to the Cleveland Browns at Arrowhead Stadium.