Chiefs News: Who will be the right tackle for Patrick Mahomes Week 1?

Nairavoice | Aug 24, 2026 3h ago 163 0 9 min read

Chiefs News: Who will be the right tackle for Patrick Mahomes Week 1?

We are learning more and more about the Kansas City Chiefs with each preseason snap. Two exhibitions have provided plenty of snaps to evaluate, and one question stands above the rest in terms of significance right now.

It has to do with the starting offensive line and who will be protecting the right edge of the pocket for quarterback Patrick Mahomes against the Denver Broncos defense on “Monday Night Football” in Week 1.

Chiefs: Who will be the right tackle for Patrick Mahomes on opening night? The team invested most of training camp in preparing Kahlil Benson, the undrafted rookie from Indiana. Benson’s performance Saturday, however, was quite disappointing. He struggled in pass protection, surrendering quick pressure to rookie Rueben Bain Jr. and a strip-sack to outside linebacker Anthony Nelson. At this point, the Chiefs likely move Benson to guard, where he played much better against the Los Angeles Rams last week. Jaylon Moore, a five-year veteran, hasn’t been impressive, either. But Moore is likely the Chiefs’ most ideal option. The only other possibility is Esa Pole, a second-year player who took snaps Saturday at left tackle with the second-team offense. — Nate Taylor

Chiefs: Who will be the right tackle for Patrick Mahomes on opening night? The team invested most of training camp in preparing Kahlil Benson, the undrafted rookie from Indiana. Benson’s performance Saturday, however, was quite disappointing. He struggled in pass protection, surrendering quick pressure to rookie Rueben Bain Jr. and a strip-sack to outside linebacker Anthony Nelson. At this point, the Chiefs likely move Benson to guard, where he played much better against the Los Angeles Rams last week. Jaylon Moore, a five-year veteran, hasn’t been impressive, either. But Moore is likely the Chiefs’ most ideal option. The only other possibility is Esa Pole, a second-year player who took snaps Saturday at left tackle with the second-team offense. — Nate Taylor

Losers
Jared Wiley, Tight End
Tight end Jared Wiley was technically third on the team with two catches and 15 receiving yards, but he was targeted four times and had a drop. He looks smooth catching passes in open space, but Travis Kelce and Noah Gray already fill that role.
What the Chiefs need from a third tight end is someone willing to do the dirty work, and Wiley has not shown that.

Tight end Jared Wiley was technically third on the team with two catches and 15 receiving yards, but he was targeted four times and had a drop. He looks smooth catching passes in open space, but Travis Kelce and Noah Gray already fill that role.

What the Chiefs need from a third tight end is someone willing to do the dirty work, and Wiley has not shown that.

Mansoor Delane gets nearly a dozen shutdown cornerback snaps in his debut
The No. 6 overall pick by the Chiefs in the 2026 NFL Draft, Mansoor Delane, made his NFL debut on Saturday. He only played during the first quarter, but that’s all it took for him to impress. Through three drives, he played 11 snaps at outside cornerback. He wasn’t targeted once by Baker Mayfield or Jake Browning. Typically, seasoned quarterbacks will test rookie cornerbacks, but they didn’t even think to look his way in his first NFL action. Delane also had a beautiful downhill trigger on a screen pass that disrupted the play for a loss. He very much so looks capable of playing opposite Nohl Williams early for Kansas City.

Mansoor Delane gets nearly a dozen shutdown cornerback snaps in his debut

The No. 6 overall pick by the Chiefs in the 2026 NFL Draft, Mansoor Delane, made his NFL debut on Saturday. He only played during the first quarter, but that’s all it took for him to impress. Through three drives, he played 11 snaps at outside cornerback. He wasn’t targeted once by Baker Mayfield or Jake Browning. Typically, seasoned quarterbacks will test rookie cornerbacks, but they didn’t even think to look his way in his first NFL action. Delane also had a beautiful downhill trigger on a screen pass that disrupted the play for a loss. He very much so looks capable of playing opposite Nohl Williams early for Kansas City.

Kareem Hunt Could Fill in for Ashton Jeanty
NFL analyst Nathan Jahnke of Pro Football Focus broke down the potential replacements for the Raiders if they lose Jeanty for an extended period. He noted a pair of trade candidates alongside Hunt.
“If the Ashton Jeanty injury is serious, they should try to trade for Tyrone Tracy or James Conner. Kareem Hunt might be their best free agent option,” Jahnke wrote in a post on X.

NFL analyst Nathan Jahnke of Pro Football Focus broke down the potential replacements for the Raiders if they lose Jeanty for an extended period. He noted a pair of trade candidates alongside Hunt.

“If the Ashton Jeanty injury is serious, they should try to trade for Tyrone Tracy or James Conner. Kareem Hunt might be their best free agent option,” Jahnke wrote in a post on X.

“It was great to see Royals step up and have a couple nice catches and then the yards after the catch,” Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said after the game. “He did a nice job there.”
The play from Nussmeier to Royals helped set up a third-and-6 deep shot to wide receiver Andrew Armstrong down the left sideline. Bucs cornerback Roman Parodie was called for pass interference on the play, bringing the Chiefs inside the Tampa Bay red zone.

“It was great to see Royals step up and have a couple nice catches and then the yards after the catch,” Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said after the game. “He did a nice job there.”

The play from Nussmeier to Royals helped set up a third-and-6 deep shot to wide receiver Andrew Armstrong down the left sideline. Bucs cornerback Roman Parodie was called for pass interference on the play, bringing the Chiefs inside the Tampa Bay red zone.

“Man, ain’t that s— crazy?” Monken told reporters. “I wondered why Lane Kiffin reached out a week ago. Now I know.”
The team source who confirmed Wright had been waived spoke on condition of anonymity because the move has not been finalized.
Wright is part of a lawsuit challenging new NCAA eligibility rules that give athletes a five-year window to compete in college sports.

“Man, ain’t that s— crazy?” Monken told reporters. “I wondered why Lane Kiffin reached out a week ago. Now I know.”

The team source who confirmed Wright had been waived spoke on condition of anonymity because the move has not been finalized.

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Wright is part of a lawsuit challenging new NCAA eligibility rules that give athletes a five-year window to compete in college sports.

The second-year rusher had been having a strong practice when he landed awkwardly diving for a catch thrown by Kirk Cousins during 11-on-11 drills. His teammates immediately froze as he lay on the ground. Trainers tended to him, then helped him up and aided him off the field. As he left, the entire team got down on a knee and stayed silent for a while before finishing practice.
The team did not immediately provide information on Jeanty’s injury following practice.

The second-year rusher had been having a strong practice when he landed awkwardly diving for a catch thrown by Kirk Cousins during 11-on-11 drills. His teammates immediately froze as he lay on the ground. Trainers tended to him, then helped him up and aided him off the field. As he left, the entire team got down on a knee and stayed silent for a while before finishing practice.

The team did not immediately provide information on Jeanty’s injury following practice.

The 49ers activated Kittle from the physically unable to perform list on Sunday, the team announced.
Kittle, who has been rehabbing from an Achilles tear he suffered in San Francisco‘s wild-card playoff game last season, can now begin practicing and getting into true football shape for the regular season.
Regardless of his contagious optimism, Kittle coming off the PUP list is by no means a guarantee he’ll suit up for Week 1.

The 49ers activated Kittle from the physically unable to perform list on Sunday, the team announced.

Kittle, who has been rehabbing from an Achilles tear he suffered in San Francisco‘s wild-card playoff game last season, can now begin practicing and getting into true football shape for the regular season.

Regardless of his contagious optimism, Kittle coming off the PUP list is by no means a guarantee he’ll suit up for Week 1.

Rookie, second-round edge rusher R Mason Thomas was not among the first out on the field for the Chiefs’ starting defense, but he was a factor for the first-team unit. On an early third-and-11, Thomas flew up the field with his head and hands up, batting down a pass that was nearly lateral and staying with it through the whistle.
It was just one play that showed off his pass-rushing prowess, but there were a number of chances for Thomas to rush the passer. In fact, all 15 of Thomas’ defensive snaps in Tampa were against a pass play, and he did not drop into coverage on any of those reps.
PFF marked Thomas with four pressures over the 15 opportunities, including a quarterback hit.

Rookie, second-round edge rusher R Mason Thomas was not among the first out on the field for the Chiefs’ starting defense, but he was a factor for the first-team unit. On an early third-and-11, Thomas flew up the field with his head and hands up, batting down a pass that was nearly lateral and staying with it through the whistle.

It was just one play that showed off his pass-rushing prowess, but there were a number of chances for Thomas to rush the passer. In fact, all 15 of Thomas’ defensive snaps in Tampa were against a pass play, and he did not drop into coverage on any of those reps.

PFF marked Thomas with four pressures over the 15 opportunities, including a quarterback hit.