Coach Andy Reid said Wednesday that rookie quarterback Patrick Mahomes will start the team's regular-season finale versus the Denver Broncos.
With the Chiefs locked into the No. 4 seed after winning the AFC West, the first-round pick will take his first snaps since the preseason.
Coach Andy Reid said that Mahomes would get the first-team snaps in practice this week with Alex Smith leading the scout team. Coach Reid added he'd use the final game of the 2017 season to rest key starters and get other younger players besides Mahomes reps.
Reid said he's not worried about the move to play Mahomes in the finale rankling Smith heading into the postseason.
"Fortunately we have a quarterback who understands it," Reid said of Smith, per the Kansas City Star. "He's having an MVP caliber year."
During the preseason, Mahomes flashed the raw playmaking skills that prompted the Chiefs to trade up in the first round to nab the quarterback, despite Smith's presence on the roster. The rookie owns otherworldly arm talent, athleticism, escape ability, and a gunslinger mentality.
In a game that has no playoff implications, the announcement brings a sparkle of excitement to the Sunday afternoon tilt in Denver. It's a chance for Chiefs fans to see their future quarterback in action for the first time since August.
hi todd. thanks for posting. fascinated to see how he does. anyone drafted this high will get a fair shot to start. if he does well, do you think they will move on from Smith? what kind of market will he have?
Hey Jeff, I think the Chiefs are Mahomes team next year and this will give him some real time experience. As for Alex Smith, he will start the playoffs and it will be also a try out for other teams in need of a quality QB. There are a lot of teams that would love to be in this situation of having two QBs that have starter abilities.
I agree that smith gets another shot somewhere. likely with a team that wants to draft and develop one of the rookies in this class. none of them feel like day 1 starters to me.
Denver?
maybe. Others to watch would be Giants, Browns, Cardinals, Redskins, Jets, Bills, and Bengals.
What if Mahomes balls? Is this the message you want to send to your starter before the playoffs? He's already dealt with looking over his shoulder all season.
I think the Chiefs are Mahomes team next year so I hope he balls. I also think Alex Smith knows this so he will want to do good to show off for other teams that might want him. Smith is a professional and understands the situation so concern on a negative message is small.
I see what you're saying but I'd want to be clicking on all cylinders especially since this year's playoffs is wide open. I'm not sure playing Mahomes helps you accomplish that. Next year is fine but Reed desperately needs a ring ASAP.
I can’t argue with on this. I agree that they need to be in top form for the playoffs.
I'm buying up as much Pat Mahomes as I can get!
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