Unlike other teams, the Kansas City Chiefs don't need to play most of their starters in the preseason. They know what they're getting out of most of their guys, and they know they'll be ready for when it actually counts.
That's why there's no point in risking proven guys like Patrick Mahomes out there. While he could benefit from some game-like reps to get his legs back under him, that can only do more harm than good at this point.
Considering that, the 20-12 loss to the Los Angeles Rams could've gone much worse. According to Nick Jacobs of KSHB41, the Chiefs don't have any major injuries to report, and that's always a positive in this line of business.
Chiefs left preseason game versus Rams with a clean bill of health
"Per Andy Reid Chu Godrick has an ankle sprain. Otherwise no issues," Jacobs wrote.
It might sound corny or cliché, but the biggest win any team can aspire to get in the preseason isn't in the record column. Time and time again, we've seen once-promising seasons derailed by an avoidable and unfortunate injury in the preseason.
As such, not having to worry about anything other than a very minor injury for a roster-bubble offensive line guy should make the Chiefs feel great overall. Hopefully, that will continue to be the case as they approach the season opener.
Health will be at the center of every single thing the Chiefs do this season. Patrick Mahomes is coming off the first major injury of his career, and while he's ahead of schedule and on track to take the field in Week 1, this team must bend over backward to ensure his knee injury doesn't become a chronic condition.
There was also a lot of speculation and backlash about Mansoor Delane. The prized rookie first-round pick had been wearing a yellow non-contact jersey through training camp, and the fans were growing anxious about his potential availability — or lack thereof — for the season opener.
But so far this week, Delane has been in pads and participating in just about every snap that comes his way. He's progressing well in a complicated Steve Spagnuolo system, which is what you'd want to hear from a guy slated with the tough task of filling in for Trent McDuffie.
The NFL season is a marathon, not a sprint. It's a long grind, and managing the guys' workloads will be as crucial as the Xs and Os of game plans.
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