Chiefs working to improve this aspect of offense amid recovery of Patrick Mahomes

Whether or not quarterback Patrick Mahomes will be able to play in the Kansas City Chiefs' Week 1 "Monday Night Football" home game versus the rival Denver Broncos on Sept. 14 remains the biggest question hovering over the Chiefs amid the final days of August. 

On Thursday, ESPN's Nate Taylor detailed how head coach Andy Reid has spent the summer making alterations to his offensive scheme that could help make life easier for Mahomes as the signal-caller continues to recover from the torn ACL and torn LCL he suffered on Dec. 14, 2025.

Chiefs want to bolster their play-action passing attack in 2026

"Although the Chiefs used play-action on 178 snaps last season, the seventh most in the NFL, they produced just 977 passing yards from it, ranking 20th, according to ESPN Research. In fact, the Chiefs surrendered more sacks (nine) than they scored touchdowns (three)," Taylor wrote. "...If the Chiefs are going to become a more potent offense this upcoming season, Reid and Mahomes have identified that the unit's play-action passing attack needs to have fangs that hurt opposing defenses."

The Chiefs gave Mahomes significant help when they signed former Seattle Seahawks running back and Super Bowl LX Most Valuable Player Kenneth Walker III in free agency. Walker led the 2025 Seahawks with 221 carries and 1,027 rushing yards. Thus, one would think that Walker's presence in the Kansas City backfield would result in opposing defenders biting more on certain play-action fakes. 

"Walker has made it clear his running style preference is to work under center, which is expected to be a bigger part of the offense this season," Taylor explained. "The Chiefs know Walker presents a more dangerous threat that should force linebackers and safeties to move forward before Mahomes attempts a play-action pass."  

Patrick Mahomes knows he can still improve aspects of his game

Mahomes is a three-time Super Bowl champion and three-time Super Bowl Most Valuable Player who, when healthy, is widely seen as the league's best player at the sport's most important position. That doesn't mean that the veteran, who will turn 31 years old in September, can't improve aspects of his game. 

"One detail that Mahomes has worked to fix in camp is to show the ball longer to the defense -- and closer to Walker or the other running backs -- to better execute his fakes so that it mirrors closer to a true handoff," Taylor added. "Too often last season, Mahomes showed the ball in front of [Kareem Hunt] or [Isiah Pacheco] and pulled it back quicker than he should have, which tipped opposing linebackers to the Chiefs' intentions of attempting a pass." 

Barring a surprising development, fans should be able to see whether or not Mahomes can avoid "tipping his pitches" when the Chiefs host the Broncos for the first "MNF" game of the campaign.