Breaking: Andy Reid makes shock omission about Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes’ game time in potential Super Bowl preview against Lions

Andy Reid has every reason to rest starters like Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce for Kansas City Chiefs’ preseason battle with the Detroit Lions on Saturday.

But with the chance to give his first team some reps against a potential Super Bowl opponent, the Chiefs coach is going to risk injury to his stars by keeping them in Saturday’s game for at least a half.

‘As far as the play time goes, the ones will take a half and then we’ll kind of fill in after that and just kind of see how the rest of that goes for the third and fourth quarters,’ Reid said after the team wrapped up its final training camp session at Missouri Western State University

Mahomes was 3 of 4 for 27 yards against Jacksonville in the Chiefs’ preseason opener, helping to set up a field goal on their first possession. He typically plays into the second quarter of the second preseason game before taking the third exhibition game off ahead of the season opener, which in this case comes Sept. 5 against Baltimore.

After playing the Lions, the Chiefs will conduct the rest of camp at their training facility in Kansas City.
I think you’ve been able to see the growth,’ said Reid, one of the few coaches left in the NFL who prefers to take his team away for camp. ‘We’ve added a ton in the last few days up here. The guys have digested it and been able to spit it back – retain it. That has been a positive. And then maybe most of all getting yourself in football shape, kind of re-amping up to our first game.’

‘We still have a couple of weeks ahead of us here ´til that all takes place,’ Reid added, ‘but we´ll keep working on it. We’re not ready yet, but we’ll keep working and sharpening ourselves up to play. I appreciate the attitude the guys have had.’

Reid said right tackle Jawaan Taylor would not play against the Lions after hurting his right shoulder during Thursday’s practice, which means Lucas Niang will likely replace him. Niang was expected to compete with Kingsley Suamataeia for the starting job on the left side, but Suamataeia, a second-round pick out of BYU, seized the job early and never let go.

Reid also said he would not ‘force it’ to get veteran left guard Joe Thuney onto the field for a preseason game. Thuney recently came off the PUP list and began to practice after a pectoral injury that caused him to miss the Super Bowl.

Running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire missed his fourth straight practice with an illness Thursday, though Reid said he was feeling better. Safety Bryan Cook also remained out of practice for personal reasons.