The Kansas City Chiefs held their first team press conference on Tuesday ahead of Saturday’s Week 16 matchup against the Houston Texans. At the start of the presser, Patrick Mahomes’s status was the main concern. The defense’s dominant performance on Sunday was also a main talking point.
Head coach Andy Reid confirmed that Mahomes’ will be involved in practice this week while also making it clear that Carson Wentz can start if their star quarterback cannot. Wentz, Nick Bolton, and Noah Gray also provided their thoughts on where the team stands on both sides of the ball and their readiness to face the challenges posed by Houston this weekend.
Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes Injury Update
Mahomes’ availability raised the most questions after everyone saw him exit Sunday’s game with a high-ankle injury. Andy Reid confirmed Mahomes would practice but made it clear that the decision to have Mahomes play on Saturday would depend on his ’comfort level. “We’ll see how Pat does,” Reid said. “He’s going to go through some stuff, and we’ll see how it works out for him.”
Mahomes also addressed the injury, likening it to his high ankle sprain from the 2022 postseason. “Jacksonville was worse. That one was pretty significant,” Mahomes said. Despite the injury, Mahomes expressed his desire to play if he is healthy. “If I feel like I can play and win a football game, I’ll play.”
After speaking about Mahomes’ status, Reid also mentioned his backup quarterback, Carson Wentz. He threw some praise his way and mentioned Wentz’s readiness to step in and play on Saturday if necessary, saying, “If he has to step in and play, then I think everybody has full confidence that he can go in and do a nice job.” Wentz echoed Reid’s sentiment, saying, “Nothing is going to change this week. I’ve prepared like I was going to play every week.”
Chiefs Defensive Growth and Challenges Ahead
The Chiefs’ defense was the headline after their win against the Browns on Sunday. A defense had a season-high six takeaways and five sacks. When Nick Bolton got to the podium to speak, he emphasized the importance of maintaining this momentum. “Especially coming down the stretch and into the postseason, we’re definitely going to need turnovers,” Bolton said.
Bolton credited the defensive front’s ability to win one-on-one matchups and the secondary’s tight coverage. He also highlighted Charles Omenihu’s role in the defensive pass rush: “His presence inside helps a lot, especially when going against quarterbacks that are a little shorter.” Omenihu is also coming off a game where he recorded his first sack since returning from his ACL injury.
Looking ahead to Saturday, Bolton acknowledged the unique challenge Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud presented. “They do a great job of mixing up run and pass looks,” Bolton said. “It’s going to take all 11 of us this Saturday.”
Chiefs Offensive Mindset
On the offensive end, Noah Gray spoke about the team’s focus on improvement. “We’re just gonna go out and try to be the best possible offense that we can,” Gray said. “It starts at practice and in the meeting rooms.” Gray has been one of the bright spots this season for the offense. Gray currently ranks third on the team in receiving yards and leads the Chiefs receivers with five touchdowns.
Gray also shared his mindset if Wentz starts over Mahomes this week. “Just gonna go out and ball and have fun,” he said.
Hollywood Brown’s potential return this week is another storyline to watch as this week progresses. Reid mentioned that Brown’s first practice back went well. “He felt good, he moved around well and took quite a few reps,” Reid said. “It’s just a matter of how he feels, but the doctors say it’s healed up nice,” Mahomes added to these comments, saying that Brown looked great and they can’t wait to have him back in the lineup, but he wants Brown’s focus to be on getting back in football shape.
Final Thoughts
The Chiefs enter the regular season’s homestretch with plenty to manage, including injuries, depth concerns, and high expectations. Andy Reid’s measured approach to Mahomes’ recovery highlights the team’s focus on long-term success.
With a capable backup in Carson Wentz and growing contributions from players down the depth chart, the Chiefs appear prepared to face any challenge that may come their way. Saturday’s game against the Texans will provide another test for the defending champs, but the team remains confident as they look to finish the regular season strong.
