The preseason is the dress rehearsal for the regular season as teams try to build chemistry and perfect game plans. Some players want to feel the energy of a live game, while others prefer contact to wake them up to the new season.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes famously fits into the desiring contact category during the preseason. The reigning Super Bowl MVP was back where he won his second title back in February, on Saturday, and performed brilliantly in limited action. He didn’t, however, get the essential hit he asked for earlier in training camp and explained to reporters following the game.
“I went to the O-Line, and I said, ‘Man, I play in the preseason to get hit one time and I literally didn’t get touched in two games.’ So yeah, they did a great job.” said Mahomes. “It’s a good, good problem to have. But, I mean, there was times when I sat in the pocket for a while. And it was like, there’s, I mean, they’re keeping everybody away from me. And when I scrambled, it seemed like I scrambled just to try to make a play. Wasn’t like I had to.”
The expectation is that Mahomes won’t play in next Saturday’s preseason finale in Kansas City. Mahomet will probably have to wait for that first hit in the regular season when the Chiefs open at home against the Detroit Lions.