Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has hinted that he could rest the likes of Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes for their final regular-season game against the LA Chargers on Sunday.
The Chiefs sealed a place in this season’s NFL playoffs, as well as their eighth straight AFC West championship, with a 25-17 win over the Cincinnati Bengals on New Year’s Eve.
They head into the playoffs locked in as the AFC’s No 3 seed behind the Miami Dolphins and the Baltimore Ravens, but it remains unclear which opponent will be coming to Kansas City for the Wild Card round.
Nevertheless, Reid’s team will have little to play for when they make the trip to Los Angeles to face the Chargers on the regular season’s closing weekend.
And when asked if he will rest his usual starters at SoFi Stadium, the Chiefs coach suggested he has some thinking to do.
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Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce could miss the Chiefs’ game vs the Chargers on Sunday
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Mahomes’ Chiefs are locked in as AFC’s No 3 seed in the playoffs after beating the Bengals
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Kansas City coach Andy Reid refused to confirm he will field his starters in LA this weekend
‘I haven’t gotten there yet,’ he said.
If history is anything to go by, the likes of Kelce and Mahomes will sit out this weekend’s game against the Chargers.
Reid has gone with his backups when nothing has been left to play for in previous seasons, including in a 38-21 loss to the Chargers after already clinching the No 1 seed back in 2020.
Mahomes also made his first start as Chiefs quarterback when Reid shuffled his pack on the final day of the 2017 season at Denver after sealing No 4 seed with first-choice Alex Smith.
However, Mahomes insists he will support any decision his head coach makes in LA on Sunday.
‘If he wants us to get out there and build off this momentum that we have, I’ll be ready to go,’ the 28-year-old said.
‘And if he wants to give us some rest, then I’ll get that rest, prepare for whoever we’re going to play, and be ready to go in the playoffs.’
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Defensive tackle Chris Jones needs just half a sack to activate a $1.25m bonus in his contract
Reid’s decision could have a huge financial impact for defensive tackle Chris Jones, who is just half a sack away from activating a $1.25million bonus in his contract.
Jones needs a total of 10 sacks to trigger the bonus fee, meaning at 9.5 for the season he is on the brink of landing a windfall.
But the player admitted: ‘If Coach Reid decides to rest us, I’ll more than likely take the rest. I can use a week off.
‘I feel a few nicks and bruises. And I’m quite sure our team could use it.’
