How Past Week Changed Chiefs’ Offensive Starters

“I think the biggest thing in coming back was that we got to be even hungrier than we've been before. And talking to Pat, talking to Coach Reid and the guys, there's a lot of dawg mentality right now to get this thing fixed, and that mentality itself is ready to get me to where I need to be during the season.”

That season, fortunately, doesn’t begin next week. But if the Chiefs had to play a game in March, they'd look significantly different. Including free agents they allowed to sign with other teams, Kansas City made 28 key personnel and cap decisions in the last few weeks. Here’s how their starting offense has changed since they traveled to Brazil and kicked off 2025 – including projected starters for a mid-September season-opener.

Quarterback

Patrick Mahomes selflessly restructured his contract to create nearly $44 million in cap room, but the Chiefs still haven’t signed a definitive backup to take his place should Mahomes’ rehab keep him from opening the season. One of their best candidates, Gardner Minshew, signed with the Cardinals. March 22 starter: Jake Haener. Sept. 13 starter: Mahomes.

Running back

Kenneth Walker breaks tackles and leaves defender’s jock straps in the field. The Chiefs have 28.7 million guaranteed reasons to hope Walker can significantly improve on the production of 2025 starter Isiah Pacheco. March 22 starter: Walker. Sept. 13 starter: Walker.

Wide receiver

Assuming Rashee Rice’s court case extends into the season, and the league doesn’t conclude its review of his situation under the personal-conduct policy, Rice returns as one of the best inside receivers in the game. From Weeks 7-14 in 2025 – between his first suspension and the Chiefs placing him on season-ending injured reserve – Rice ranked second in the NFL with 376 yards after the catch, trailing only Jahmyr Gibbs (387).

Xavier Worthy isn’t healthy this week, recovering from postseason shoulder surgery. But the Chiefs can only wonder what kind of season he would’ve had without crashing into Kelce on the season’s third snap. They’re expecting a healthier version of Worthy in 2026. Meanwhile, Tyquan Thornton re-signed this week, restoring the Chiefs’ all-important deep threat (as long as the Chiefs use him the way they did early in 2025). March 22 starters: Rice, Thornton, Jason Brownlee. Sept. 13 starters: Rice, Worthy, Thornton.

Tight end

Kelce is back for his Age 37 season. He showed crisper routes and noticeably better stamina compared to 2024, a credit to his new workout program last offseason. This summer, his time management will be more important because he’s marrying Taylor Swift. Wherever they decided to honeymoon, he’s still expecting to report in excellent shape for training camp in St. Joseph, Mo. March 22 starter: Kelce. Sept. 13 starter: Kelce.

Offensive line

Josh Simmons missed four games for personal family reasons, then lost his final five games after fracturing his wrist – on a friendly fire Thanksgiving collision with Kareem Hunt. However, assuming Simmons can return to the impressive form he showed over Weeks 1-5 and in the middle of the year, the Chiefs are in solid shape across their line. The only question mark is really right tackle, where Kansas City released starter Jawaan Taylor in a cap-casualty move. The Chiefs’ current roster, however, already has five solid candidates to replace Taylor: Wanya Morris, Jaylon Moore, Esa Pole, Chu Godrick and Matt Waletzko. March 22 starters : Moore (LT), Kingsley Suamataia (LG), Creed Humphrey (C), Trey Smith (RG), Morris (RT). Sept. 13 starters: Simmons (LT), Suamataia (LG), Humphrey (C), Smith (RG), Moore (RT).