The Kansas City Chiefs are heading into Week 18 riding high with a 15-1 record. After their dominant Christmas Day win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Chiefs have locked up the AFC’s No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, all the way to the Super Bowl.
With nothing left to prove in the regular season, fans are wondering if head coach Andy Reid will rest his starters for the team’s final game against the division-rival Denver Broncos.
Should the Chiefs play two-time NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes to keep the momentum going, or give him two full weeks of rest — including the wild-card round bye — to let him recover from the ankle injury he’s been dealing with since Week 15?
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) and head coach Andy Reid.
Denny Medley-Imagn Images
According to Fox Sports’ Peter Schrager, Mahomes won’t suit up for Week 18. He also added that while backup quarterback Carson Wentz will start, the Chiefs could promote practice squad quarterback Chris Oladokun, giving the 27-year-old signal-caller a chance to play against Denver.
“I’m told Mahomes is not going to play next week,” Schrager said. “Carson Wentz is going to start, and I’ll go one step further. They might elevate practice squad quarterback Chris Oladokun to come in, and he might get snaps in this game.”
Schrager went on to say that the Broncos will face “mostly backups.”
“It’s going to be a different version of them (Chiefs), mostly backups,” Schrager added. “We’ll see how it goes, but Carson Wentz has played some good football.”
Broncos fans are certainly happy to hear this news. If the Broncos defeat the Chiefs, they’ll clinch the AFC’s final playoff spot.
Kickoff between Kansas City and Denver in Week 18 is scheduled for next Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
