AFC West
Kansas City Chiefs
AI Summary
The Chiefs enter 2026 looking to bounce back from a 6-11 collapse that ended a nine-year AFC West title streak and their first playoff miss since 2014, a season derailed when Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL and LCL in Week 15. Andy Reid says Mahomes has been fully cleared for training camp and is targeting Week 1, though he'll sit out the preseason opener as a precaution, and GM Brett Veach retooled the roster by trading CB Trent McDuffie to the Rams for a haul of draft capital, using part of it on first-round CB Mansoor Delane, and acquiring Justin Fields from the Jets as Mahomes' backup. Preseason oddsmakers remain skeptical, with several outlets ranking Kansas City outside the top 10 and books setting the win total near 10.5, but the return of a healthy Mahomes keeps expectations of a bounce-back season alive.
Researched by Team Research Desk · last updated August 20, 2026
Real Efficiency KPIs
Offensive EPA/play
+0.035
#11 of 32
Defensive EPA/play allowed
-0.019
#12 of 32
2025 regular season, 1048 offensive / 978 defensive plays. Source: nflverse play-by-play (github.com/nflverse/nflverse-data), real 2025 regular season. This is a prior-season baseline — this team's 2026 numbers will replace it once real Week 1 plays exist.
Key Players (2025 production)
Leading Passer
Patrick Mahomes · QB
315/502, 22 TD, 11 INT
+68.2 passing EPA
Leading Rusher
Kareem Hunt · RB
163 car, 611 yds, 8 TD
+9.7 rushing EPA
Leading Receiver
Travis Kelce · TE
76/108, 851 yds, 20% target share
+40.4 receiving EPA
Leading Pass Rusher
Chris Jones · DE
7 sacks, 25 QB hits
Leading Tackler
Nick Bolton · LB
69 solo, 81 assist
Leading Interceptor
Jaylen Watson · CB
2 INT
Source: nflverse player stats (github.com/nflverse/nflverse-data), real 2025 regular season; team attribution updated for documented 2026 offseason trades. Prior-season baseline, not 2026 in-season stats.
Key Storylines
- Patrick Mahomes cleared for training camp after December ACL/LCL surgery, targeting Week 1 but held out of the preseason opener vs. the Rams
- Chiefs traded CB Trent McDuffie to the Rams for a package including a 2026 first-round pick, then used it on LSU CB Mansoor Delane
- Acquired QB Justin Fields from the Jets to back up Mahomes
- WR Rashee Rice back at camp and practicing fully after offseason knee surgery and a jail stint for a probation violation, with Jalen Royals, Nikko Remigio and others competing for the WR4/5 roles after Hollywood Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster left in free agency
- Season-ending training camp injuries to DE Ethan Downs (torn ACL) and rookie TE John Michael Gyllenborg (knee), while DT Omarr Norman-Lott opened camp on PUP recovering from a 2025 ACL tear
Injury Report
Patrick Mahomes · QB
Cleared for camp
Recovering from a torn ACL and LCL suffered in Week 15 of 2025; cleared to practice and targeting Week 1, but will not play in the preseason opener.
Omarr Norman-Lott · DT
PUP
Opened training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list recovering from a torn ACL suffered in Week 7 of the 2025 season.
Ethan Downs · DE
Out for season
Tore his ACL in a training camp practice collision; season-ending.
John Michael Gyllenborg · TE
IR
Rookie tight end placed on injured reserve with a knee injury; done for the 2026 season.
Rashee Rice · WR
Full participant
Had knee surgery in May and missed offseason work; back to full practice participation at camp.