Three Biggest Questions the Chiefs Still Face at Training Camp

Although final roster cuts don't have to be made until the end of the month, Kansas City Chiefs training camp officially ends approximately one week from now on Aug. 20. There are still a number of lingering questions for this squad that have yet to be answered.

We'd all like to think the expected return of a future Hall of Fame quarterback will solve everything, but that's simply not the case. The Chiefs were already headed toward missing the postseason for the first time in Patrick Mahomes' tenure before he tore his ACL/LCL, and they were severely lacking in several areas that they had to address during the offseason.

These three questions will heavily impact the Chiefs' early-season performance. Let's look at the first.

3. Can Patrick Mahomes Build Enough Chemistry With WRs by Camp's End?

Head coach Andy Reid is making the right decision to sit Mahomes in the preseason this year. For the first time in his decade-long NFL career, he won't appear in a preseason game, but is expected to be ready by Week 1.

While fans should have the utmost confidence in Mahomes figuring things out with his receiving corps, it does raise questions about how much chemistry he'll have with his targets when the season gets underway.

Granted, Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy have worked with him for multiple years, and Travis Kelce is still available as his security blanket, but the options start to become slim after that. Reid has assured that Mahomes is building "trust" with newcomers like Cyrus Allen and Andrew Armstrong, though the reality is that they won't see any game action together for another month.

Jul 29, 2026; St. Joseph, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice (4) walks down the hill to the practice fields during training camp at Missouri Western State University. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

It's tough to know how much chemistry a quarterback-receiver duo can build when they're only seeing each other in practice against their own defense.

2. Who Will Win the Chiefs' Starting Right Tackle Job?

Since the second day of training camp, the right tackle battle has begun as Kahlil Benson began stealing first-team reps from projected starter Jaylon Moore. That has since changed after Trey Smith's hip injury forced Benson to move to guard, but he's very much still in play to win the job on the outside.

The undrafted rookie out of Indiana boasts exceptional physical tools despite lacking the experience and technique of Moore. He'll need to make plenty of progress before he is seriously considered the favorite, but this competition has lasted nearly two weeks now with no clear frontrunner.

This is a question that could be answered by tomorrow or persist until the day before Week 1. Either way, both players are embracing the competition and pushing each other to improve every day, which is a fantastic sign.

1. How Thin Will Injuries Leave the Chiefs' Defense by Week 1?

The offense has its fair share of injuries in the wide receiver room, not to mention making sure Mahomes' knee is steady. However, the defense is dealing with several ailments that have left the Chiefs shorthanded at certain positions.

Most of the concerns stem from the secondary, where first-round draft selection Mansoor Delane is still donning a non-contact jersey, while Kristian Fulton (hip) and L'Jarius Sneed (lower body) remain limited. Another player to pop up on the Chiefs' injury radar is Drue Tranquill, who is dealing with back spasms that have recently sidelined him.

The defensive line is also becoming a concern. Ashton Gillotte is dealing with a lengthy hamstring strain that could keep him out of the entire preseason, putting Felix Anudike-Uzomah in a starting role. Chiefs fans know it is difficult to rely on FAU, who missed the entirety of the 2025 campaign following a hamstring surgery of his own.

To make matters worse, Ethan Downs tore his ACL in camp last month, while 2025 second-round pick Omarr Norman-Lott remains on the PUP list with a knee injury.

The Chiefs could be dangerously thin on defense entering the preseason. Not all of these injuries will carry over into Week 1 against the Broncos, but with so much uncertainty less than a month until the opener, it's time to sound the alarm over the defense's health.

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