The Kansas City Chiefs are well underway with their offseason program. The third phase, or ogranized-team-activities (OTAs), began on Tuesday. The program continued on Wednesday, and local media will be permitted to observe the third session on Thursday.
The process will then repeat next week before the Chiefs’ mandatory minicamp from June 9-11.
While we should expect to learn some things about the 2026 Chiefs this week, there are some things we probably still will not know.
Although reporters will
be present, they will operate under significant team restrictions. The Chiefs generally prohibit media from commenting on depth chart issues or player formations during offseason practices, which are closed to the public.
So, if you expect confirmation on the team’s starting right tackle or to know what packages rookies are being worked into, prepare to be disappointed. Most information will come from social media updates the Chiefs will tease through minicamp.
Still, there are some things we should know more about. Head coach Andy Reid and select players are also expected to speak to the media on Thursday.
Patrick Mahomes’ status
Kansas City announced to the world yesterday that Mahomes was back on the field just months after suffering multiple torn ligaments in his left knee. We know little of the context of his return, however.
The face of the league coming back from injury is a major story, and there may very well be national media present on Thursday. We should have more insight on whether Mahomes is running the offense in non-contact practices or working his way back on the side.
Other player injuries
Mahomes is far from the only Chiefs to end 2025 on Kansas City’s Reserve/Injured list. Nine other current Chiefs, however, ended the season on one of the team’s injury lists. It would be encouraging to see a minimal crew on the sideline with trainers.
Internet sleuths have already noted wide receiver Xavier Worthy in a yellow, non-contact jersey in released images. Worthy battled shoulder and ankle injuries all of last season and reportedly had a shoulder labrum procedure done in January. Being on the field in any way at this point is a positive sign.
We usually learn about at least one previously unreported player surgery from the first media look at OTAs. Hopefully the trainer’s tent does not become the biggest story of Thursday.
Coaching
While we may not hear accounts of how individual players are performing, we will likely get word of how coaches are reacting.
This offseason, the Chiefs decided to address 2025’s offseason woes with an emphasis on the run game — and stronger voices on the coaching staff. Non-contact practices in June will reveal almost nothing about how free agent running back Kenneth Walker III is fitting into the offense. We may get word on what new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy and running backs coach DeMarco Murray have seen from the star back.
How new wide receivers coach Chad O’Shea handles his group with one starter limited in Worthy and another starter incarcerated in Texas should be monitored.
On defense, a very veteran group of coaches will be tasked with having rookies — headlined by a pair of first round picks in cornerback Mansoor Delane and defensive tackle Peter Woods — ready to take on significant snaps immediately.
The Super Bowl is not won in June, and few things bring out overreactions than football starved fans taking in what little will be reported of OTAs.
We should avoid jumping to conclusions about player absences. Participation in OTA practices is strictly voluntary (though some players have a contractual workout bonus contingent upon being present). The Chiefs reportedly had strong attendance on Tuesday, but that does not mean all of the same player will be there on Thursday.
