Patrick Mahomes to sit again as the Chiefs end their preseason against the Seahawks on Friday night

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes will not play in the Kansas City's preseason finale against the Seattle Seahawks on Friday night, the first time that the two-time MVP has gone through a full scheduled preseason without appearing in a game.

Mahomes is making his comeback after tearing ligaments in his knee in December. But while he's been on or ahead of schedule since the ensuing surgery, and taken part in the entire offseason program and training camp, it was always expected that Mahomes would not appear in any of the three tuneups ahead of the regular season.

The Chiefs play Denver in a marquee Monday night showdown Sept. 14. And Mahomes plans to be on the field then.

“It’s the amount of time they've said from the beginning, that if I did everything the right way, I would be ready to play Week 1,” he said. “I’m someone, if you put (a target) in front of me, I want to go out and get it and maximize every single opportunity, every rep in the weight room, every hour that I can spend in the building to get my body right.”

Mahomes has missed a preseason before, when the NFL canceled it entirely in 2020 amid the pandemic. He went on to have one of the best seasons of his career, throwing for 4,740 yards with 38 touchdowns and only six interceptions as Kansas City went 14-2 and beat Buffalo for the AFC championship, before losing to Tampa Bay in the Super Bowl.

“You know, this week we've kind of treated it more like a game week, being able to go in that same process — have Wednesday practice and then a Thursday practice, take my notes the same and watch same film that I’ll usually watch. I think that’s kind of how I prepare,” Mahomes said. "Get out there on the practice field and treat every rep like it’s the most important rep.

“I think if you can do that,” Mahomes said, "you’ll be ready to go whenever you get that opportunity to go out there in the game.”

Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Wednesday that backup quarterback Justin Fields also is unlikely to play against the Seahawks, though many offensive starters will get at least a few reps. Fourth-string quarterback Chris Oladokun remains in the concussion protocol, so it is possible that seventh-round pick Garrett Nussmeier will play al l of the Chiefs' preseason finale.

Nussmeier has been impressive in extended reps in their first two preseason games.

“He's done a nice job, thrown right in the fire with the first group. I thought he handled it well,” Reid said. “He looked like he stepped in, took it on, good leadership, tempo in and out of the huddle. It was all positive. It'll pay off down the road.

“I'm sure they would all love to play a game," Reid added, “and now he has a chance, potentially.”

Reid did not say whether wide receivers Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy, who have been held out of the first two preseason games while coming back from injuries, would play against the Seahawks. Rice had surgery to clean up some debris in his knee earlier in the offseason, and Worthy has been dealing with a shoulder injury that he sustained earlier in training camp.

Running back Kenneth Walker III also is unlikely to play after missing practice time this week with a swollen ankle.

“He's OK. He's going to be fine,” Reid said. “We're just trying to get that swelling out of there.”

Notes: The Chiefs traded a 2028 seventh-round pick to the New York Giants late Tuesday for offensive lineman Joshua Ezeudu. He is expected to provide experienced depth for an offensive line that has dealt with injuries throughout camp. ... The Chiefs head into their game against the Seahawks having lost their past eight preseason games.

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Kansas City Chiefs' Emmett Johnson (10) celebrates a touchdown with quarterback Garrett Nussmeier (14) in the second half of an NFL preseason football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes warms up before an NFL preseason football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Rams, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026, in Kansas City, MO. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) walks the sidelines during the first half an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

ATLANTA (AP) — Players who leave the NFL to return to college won't be allowed to come back to the league this season.

NFL executive Troy Vincent reiterated the longstanding policy at the league's meetings Wednesday, saying players who go back to college will be ineligible to play in 2026. Vincent said any player who does that would instead become a free agent for the 2027 season.

The comments came one day after the Southeastern and Big Ten conferences banned players who were on NFL rosters from being able to play at their schools. Atlantic Coast and Big 12 conference leaders were also discussing the topic this week.

At least two players who signed with NFL teams as undrafted free agents this offseason were hoping to return to college and play at No. 11 LSU.

Tight end Dae'Quan Wright originally signed with Philadelphia as an undrafted free agent out of Mississippi following the draft. He was waived by the Eagles on Aug. 10 and claimed by Cleveland the following day. He spent about two weeks with the Browns without playing in an exhibition game before being waived on Monday. He cleared waivers Tuesday and now wants to go to LSU to play for his former Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin.

Defensive lineman Zxavian Harris signed with New Orleans in May as an undrafted free agent out of Ole Miss and participated in the offseason program. He was placed on the non-football injury list at the start of training camp in July and was waived Aug. 8. He wasn't claimed by any team and also wants to go back to college to play for Kiffin.

Both players entered the NFL draft because they had used up their four years of eligibility. The NCAA announced a rule change in June allowing players who began college in 2023 or later to have five years to play five years of sports in college.

That rule didn't apply to Wright and Harris, who entered college in 2022 but they are among the players who have sued the NCAA, arguing they’re being deprived of education and potential NIL financial benefits by being excluded from the rule.

Cal football general manager Ron Rivera said Wednesday he hopes the ACC joins the Big Ten and SEC in turning away former pros.

“I think when somebody makes a decision, goes in a certain direction, I think they’ve made their decision,” said Rivera, a former NFL player and coach. “I’m disappointed that people are looking for ways to cheat the system or beat the system.”

In Tennessee, the state's Court of Appeals granted the NCAA’s motion that puts on hold an order that would have given former Vanderbilt player Jalen Washington and 18 other basketball players a fifth year of eligibility.

The ruling gives the NCAA a win in ongoing litigation across the nation in federal and state courts involving college athletes who contend they should get a fifth year of competition under revised NCAA eligibility rules adopted in June.

Washington, who transferred to Tennessee, and the other plaintiffs are now ineligible pending resolution of the NCAA’s appeal of the lower court’s ruling.

Washington was the lead plaintiff in a complaint filed July 6 by the Texas Trial Group seeking the injunction. Others included Chendall Weaver, last at Texas; A.J. Storr of Mississippi; Jason Edwards of Providence; and Daniel Egbuniwe of St. Bonaventure.

The NCAA also has won stays of injunctions in Ohio and New Jersey state courts and in a federal court in Colorado.

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Troy Vincent speaks during a news conference at an NFL football owners meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Cleveland Browns tight end Dae'Quan Wright warms up before a preseason NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)