As each day passes, we are that much closer to the Kansas City Chiefs season-opener in Arrowhead Stadium for a Monday night primetime clash versus the AFC West division rival Denver Broncos on Sep. 14. But before any of that, the Chiefs first have to get through each checkpoint of the offseason.
The NFL Draft has come and gone, free agency was filled with league-wide overpays and overreactions, and after a grueling 18 practices in 23 days in muggy St. Joseph, Missouri, the Chiefs finished up training camp this past Thursday. Add in the preseason opener versus the Rams as one of those 23 days, and Andy Reid's team has done the hard part.
Now, all it's about for every player on this 90-man roster is showing up and showing out for each preseason game that follows. There are only two left: the final one back in Kansas City on Friday, Aug. 28, and today's matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Raymond James Stadium.
For most Chiefs scheduled to play in today's game, it's as big as a Super Bowl, because for a lot of them, this is where their individual performance will be the swinging factor between them making it past cutdown days and either etching their name on the much coveted 53-man roster or the 17-player practice squad.
The Rams game was a nice taster, but Saturday's matchup in Tampa Bay is where jobs will be won and lost
Garrett Nussmeier
Seventh-round rookie quarterback from LSU, Garrett Nussmeier was just nine picks from going undrafted in April. Now, a few months later, he's strongly petitioning to make the Chiefs' final roster as the third QB behind Patrick Mahomes and Justin Fields.
Nussmeier performed about as well as anyone could have hoped for a week ago, completing 13 of 19 passes for just under 100 yards, leading three scoring drives, all ending in a Harrison Butker field goal. He showed off both his arm talent, pocket presence, and out-of-structure ability. All traits that, before his final season in college, had him projected as an early-first round pick.
Another strong showing versus Tampa in hopefully extended time could very well prove, if not already, to Reid and the rest of the coaching staff that it might be worth it to keep a trio of QB's, something the Chiefs have typically shied away from in the past.
Andrew Armstrong
The Chiefs' depth at wide receiver has been a major topic of discussion not just this offseason, but for multiple years now. Going into 2026, the ceiling is as high as it's probably been since Tyreek Hill's departure, but the floor is notably lower. We've yet to see Rashee Rice in action for an extended period of time; Xavier Worthy remains an unknown, and Tyquan Thornton's 2025 campaign might have been fool's gold.
Fifth-round rookie Cyrus Allen has been a training camp revelation and a guy who has seemingly become irreplaceable on Kansas City's offense. Another newcomer who gives them a unique look at the position is 2025 UDFA Andrew Armstrong, who has slowly risen up the depth chart.
His lone 17-yard catch-and-run up the sideline versus the Rams was nice to see last week. And a few solid blocks are something new that new wide receivers coach Chad O'Shea no doubt loved. But he's going to have to produce much more over these two remaining preseason games to have a legitimate case for making the roster.
Chiefs WR Andrew Armstrong had a couple of good blocks against Rams cornerbacks Alex Johnson and Al’zillion Hamilton. pic.twitter.com/esAjCdEyH2
— Farzin Vousoughian (@Farzin21) August 16, 2026
Felix Anudike-Uzomah
Entering his fourth season, former first-round selection out of Kansas State, Felix Anudike-Uzomah is not only fighting for meaningful snaps among the Chiefs' defensive end rotation, but also for a future in this league. He's reportedly had a strong training camp, after coming into it fully healthy, with a quicker burst off the line.
A combined three sacks in his first two years and then a season-ending hamstring injury last season have made it difficult for FAU to live up to the billing of a premier draft pick. While his spot on the final roster is all but guaranteed, his level of performance is not.
Anudike-Uzomah did not get off to a strong start last week as he played 50% of the defensive snap counts and registered one assisted tackle. Compare that to rookie R Mason Thomas, who played roughly the same amount and had two key pressures, a pass deflection and two assisted tackles; let's just say FAU needs to start being a factor.
Kevin Knowles
Second-year cornerback Kevin Knowles came into the 2026 season ready to take the next step after easing into his rookie year under defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. Knowles played in a reserve role, appearing for just 82 snaps in '25, but posted 15 combined tackles, two pass deflections, and one fumble recovery.
However, the Chiefs' secondary underwent massive changes this offseason, making the DB room very murky. Knowles didn't flash in training camp, but he also never got burned. Which is what you'd typically want from a primarily boundary corner.
Knowles is competing with about a handful of Chiefs players for the final two or three roster spots. Whether or not he makes it will be up to the coaches. But a couple of big plays or lockdown coverage in today's game versus the Bucs would strengthen Knowles' case.
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