The latest
And from a business point of view, the future does not look bright. Mahomes carries a $78.2 million cap charge for next year, one that will obviously be restructured to push a large chunk of those cap charges into the future. They have the second-worst cap table in the league next year, better than only the Cowboys, and Travis Kelce’s future is uncertain. This could be the end of an era.
Having been around the NFL for decades, I was constantly reminded of the one overriding feature that the league prides itself on: competitive balance. It is baked into the system with the salary cap, draft, free agency restraints and equal revenue sharing, creating an atmosphere where bad teams can improve faster and good teams have a hard time staying good. While we didn’t make a Super Bowl in my decade in Green Bay, we won our division four times, which I am very proud to be a part of. I know how hard that sustained success was then, and is now; thus my continued admiration and fandom for the Packers. But at some point circumstances, fortune and the pull of competitive balance overtake teams. That happened to the Chiefs this year.
Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman George Karlaftis spoke with reporters on Wednesday, commenting on practice without quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
“Yeah, absolutely, he’s (Patrick Mahomes) one of the things that makes this thing go,” said Karlaftis. “Definitely different without him being here, just like with any other position, it’s next man up, and I know Gardner’s (Minshew) going to do a great job. But yeah, it’s for sure different. I got here today, (and) it was the first time since I’ve been here that I haven’t seen him or his car here. It was different.”
The Chiefs will likely be using players from the practice squad or those with limited experience as they play out the rest of the 2025 schedule. Karlaftis described what he’s seen from the younger guys this season.
He’s part of a heralded group — the Chiefs’ draft class of 2022 — that is likely to split apart this offseason while facing free agency for the first time.
“Those are my brothers for life,” Watson told The Athletic on Wednesday. “We’ve been through so much — just blood, sweat and tears and hard work together. It’s gonna be tough, everyone going in their different paths. But I enjoyed the time we had together.”
Watson, a seventh-round pick, is one of many pending free agents who remain on the Chiefs’ roster as part of a draft class that reshaped it. Others include second-round safety Bryan Cook, third-round linebacker Leo Chenal, fourth-round cornerback Joshua Williams, seventh-round running back Isiah Pacheco and seventh-round cornerback Nazeeh Johnson.
The group won championships in its first two years before also reaching the Super Bowl last season. That was all before a disappointing 2025, as K.C. has struggled to a 6-8 record and is already eliminated from playoff contention.
Why Dan picked the Chiefs: My, how things have changed in the last week. For the first time in a decade, I have no grasp of what to expect from the Chiefs. They’ve lost Patrick Mahomes for at least the rest of the season and have already been eliminated from playoff contention. After such a monstrous buzzkill, I’m interested to see if they can muster the energy to go on the road and beat a Titans team that should be hungry to kick the reigning AFC champions when they’re down. It doesn’t help matters for Andy Reid that Rashee Rice is in concussion protocol as of this writing. The only thing keeping me from picking Tennessee is Kansas City’s defense. It’s still playing relatively well, despite the team’s downturn, and Steve Spagnuolo should have a plan to make life difficult on rookie Cam Ward. If Mahomes’ replacement, Gardner Minshew, gets loose with the ball — he has more interceptions than touchdown passes in his last 13 games dating back to last season — the upset will absolutely be in play.
Around the NFL
The Colts are opening Richardson’s 21-day practice window, coach Shane Steichen announced Thursday.
“As I mentioned last week, Anthony returned for physical activity, but he still has some vision limitation in his eye,” Steichen explained. “So we’re gonna get him back on the practice field, get him throwing, doing some scout team reps. It’s just something that he’ll have to manage through the process.”
Richardson’s return to practice does not indicate he’s nearing a return to the lineup in any of the Colts’ remaining three games. When asked if Richardson would start at quarterback if healthy, Steichen replied succinctly: “Right now, Philip’s our starter.”
On Thursday night, the Seattle Seahawks beat the Los Angeles Rams 38-37 in overtime to clinch a spot in the playoffs.
Through the first 15 weeks, the Seahawks looked like one of the best teams in the NFL while compiling an 11-3 record.
On Thursday night, with so much on the line in one of the biggest regular-season games in recent memory, they looked like a team of destiny. The story was all but written about how Seattle would have to take the long road in the playoffs, with two losses to the Rams all but ending its hopes of winning the NFC West and claiming the conference’s top seed, with the first-round bye and home-field advantage that comes with it.
But the Seahawks are now in the driver’s seat for both after an utterly improbable comeback. Seattle erased a 16-point deficit in the fourth quarter, after the game was turning into a blowout following two Sam Darnold interceptions against the same team that picked off four of his passes last month at So-Fi Stadium.
Next, Burrow was asked if he’s ever thought about the possibility of not being the quarterback in Cincinnati at some point down the road.
“You think about a lot of things,” Burrow said.
OK, so that could be a red flag, but is it?
Most NFL players probably would have given a stock answer here and said, “Yeah, I plan to be here forever,” but Burrow isn’t most NFL players. He says what’s on his mind.
In the very same press conference, he was asked if he had ever thought about not playing and maybe just retiring.
“I mean, you think about it, but you think about a lot of different things in your life just like everybody does,” Burrow said.
In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride
1. Can the Chiefs find a role for Brashard Smith?
All season, we’ve anticipated rookie running back Brashard Smith’s breakout, but it hasn’t happened. The Chiefs have not found a consistent role that suits his skillset in the run game, and he has made little impact on pass plays. Kansas City is still looking for someone to fill a role similar to that of former Chiefs’ running back Jerick McKinnon.
Smith could develop into that player, but he needs an opportunity to do so, and the final three weeks are the perfect time. There’s no reason to give starting running backs Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco all of the carries. Both will be unrestricted free agents this offseason and could be elsewhere in 2026. It would be more advantageous to see what Smith has to offer for the future of the Chiefs’ running back room.
Moving forward, the rookie back should see a variety of run concepts called for him to see what sticks. He should also be featured in the pass game; the play calling should dial up a few screens for him, anything to get the ball in his hands.
Social media to make you think
Follow Arrowhead Pride on Social Media
- Facebook: Like our page
- Instagram: @ArrowheadPride
- X: Follow @ArrowheadPride
- AP Staff on X: See complete list
- Sports Radio 810 on X: Follow @SportsRadio810
See More:
