Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has confirmed that star quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, alongside other starters, won’t be playing in Week 18 against the Los Angeles Chargers, as he stated on press conference earlier today.
The #Chiefs will rest Patrick Mahomes for Sunday’s game vs. the Chargers with the team locked into the AFC’s No. 3 seed.
Blaine Gabbert will get the start. pic.twitter.com/iVk62xqxOH
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 3, 2024
Reid will start veteran backup QB Blaine Gabbert, who will be making his first start in a Kansas City Chiefs uniform, and also will be his first for any team since the 2018 season. He signed with the team back in April 2023 for a one-year contract.
Will Kelce play on Week 18?
The Chiefs have already clinched the AFC’s no. 3 seed this season, giving some starters time to rest before the start of the NFL playoffs. It is unknown at the moment if Travis Kelce will also be rested, as he is 16 yards shy of reaching 1,000 receiving yards for the 8th season in a row, sitting at 984.
Blaine Gabbert says confidently that if Travis Kelce plays on Sunday, he’s going to do whatever he can to get him his 16 yards he needs to reach 1,000. He mentions that he knows it means a lot to the #Chiefs organization.
“If he wants to play, he’ll play. If Coach Reid says have…
— Mackenzie Webb (@kenziewebbsport) January 3, 2024
Per Mackenzie Webb, Gabbert confidently said that ‘he will do whatever he can to help Kelce to reach 1,000 yards’, but he also stated that is coach Reid’s decision to make if the tight end plays or not.
“If he wants to play, he’ll play. If Coach Reid says have him rest, he’s gonna rest. Ultimately that’s on Coach Reid, but if we’re out there we’re going to do our damn best to get him 17 yards”.    Blaine Gabbert
The Chiefs have a 10-6 record, sitting first in the AFC West. However, the current Super Bowl champions are not in their best form, losing 3 of their last 5 games.
