Unhealthy information for NFL groups: Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce regarded simply high-quality within the preseason opener in opposition to the Jaguars in Jacksonville.
The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs teammates celebrated their third Tremendous Bowl victory in 5 years with a busy offseason that included European holidays, movie star golf tournaments, and numerous different skilled endeavors.
However when it got here time to place the pads again on Saturday evening in Jacksonville, each Mahomes and Kelce appeared to select up proper the place they left off in February, when the Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers in Tremendous Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas.
The 2 future Corridor of Famers performed just one sequence, however Mahomes nonetheless managed to finish 3 of 4 passes for 27 yards. A kind of tosses went to Kelce, who hauled within the reception for seven yards.
Sometimes head coach Andy Reid likes to offer his starters two sequence earlier than placing backups into the primary preseason sport, however ‘Large Crimson,’ as he is identified, was wanting to see Kansas Metropolis’s second unit.
Patrick Mahomes (15) throws as Jacksonville Jaguars defensive finish Trevis Gipson defends
Travis Kelce warms up earlier than a preseason sport in opposition to the Jacksonville Jaguars
Most notably, the Chiefs’ backups now embody former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback and second-overall decide Carson Wentz, who accomplished all 4 of his passes in opposition to his former coach Doug Pederson’s staff on Saturday.
Mahomes performed a complete of six snaps within the 2023 preseason opener in opposition to the New Orleans Saints. He totaled 11 performs in opposition to the Chicago Bears in 2022 and 4 snaps in opposition to the San Francisco 49ers in 2021.
The dearth of late-summer taking part in time does not trouble Mahomes, who joked he does not thoughts absorbing a success from a defender in the course of the preseason.
‘I all the time wish to get hit, however not hit arduous,’ Mahomes stated earlier within the week. ‘So, if I can simply throw the ball and a kind of defensive ends simply desires to offer me a bit of push, that is all I want so it is cool.
‘I like taking part in within the preseason, actually. Getting in there, strive to ensure we’re doing stuff the suitable method and getting out, attempt to preserve all people wholesome.’
A Kansas Metropolis Chiefs fan holds a marketing campaign signal for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce within the stands previous to an NFL preseason soccer sport in opposition to the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium
The underside line is that the Chiefs wish to consider gamers both competing for a beginning spot or a roster spot.
‘All these younger guys, I like to see how they compete,’ Reid stated. ‘The upper the draft picks, they will be in there. Somewhat bit higher competitors, so I wish to see how they deal with that.’
Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo agreed with Reid.
‘Guys that have not had loads of time again there, I would wish to see these guys,’ Spagnuolo stated. ‘You realize all of the younger guys, clearly.
‘I imply, I advised them within the assembly, the blokes that I have been round which can be right here, I do know which guys are powerful and which guys are pretend powerful. I imply, I am looking for out if guys are powerful sufficient to play on this league and do the issues we have to do.’
