The Kansas City Chiefs are set to face the Jacksonville Jaguars in their first exhibition tilt of the 2024 NFL preseason at 6 p.m. CST on Saturday, August 10.
This game will be the first opportunity to see quarterback Patrick Mahomes and company in action after Kansas City’s Super Bowl LVIII victory in January.
According to head coach Andy Reid, Mahomes is only expected to play the first quarter. Still, fans in Chiefs Kingdom should expect to see big plays from Kansas City’s new receivers Xavier Worthy and Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown during the matchup against the Jaguars.
Below are important game details about this preseason matchup:
Game information:
Who: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
When: Saturday, August 10, 6 p.m. CST
Where: EverBank Stadium – Jacksonville, Florida
Streaming:
In-market live stream: FuboTV (free 7-day trial) or NFL+
Broadcast:
TV: KMCI-TV (38 The Spot) or NFL Network
Radio: WDAF-FM (106.5 FM Kansas City)
Broadcasters:
Ari Wolfe (play-by-play), Trent Green (color commentary), Kimmi Chex and Matt McMullen (sideline)
Referee:
Tra Blake
Opponent wire site:
2024 Preseason Schedule:
WeekDateOpponentTime1Saturday, Aug. 8@ Jacksonville Jaguars6 p.m. CST on NFL NetworkTickets2Saturday, Aug. 17vs. Detroit Lions3 p.m. CST on NBCTickets3Thursday, Aug. 22vs. Chicago Bears7:20 p.m. CST on NFL NetowrkTickets
After three weeks on a college campus in St. Joseph — though who’s counting? — the Chiefs will move to a different competition Saturday in Jacksonville.
A game.
At long last.
The Chiefs open their three-date preseason schedule with a trip to face the Jaguars at 6 p.m. Saturday. The game will be broadcast on 38 The Spot/KMCI in Kansas City.
Head coach Andy Reid said he anticipates playing the starters the first quarter, but his own history suggests it will be more like one series for quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
But there’s a reason to keep watching.
The preseason games are about the battles for starting jobs and roster spots, and you’ve come to the right place to learn a little more about those. Between four of us at The Star — beat reporters Blair Kerkhoff and Jesse Newell, and columnists Sam McDowell and Vahe Gregorian — we’ve made more than 60 trips up I-29 for Chiefs training camp practices.
The result provides you comprehensive coverage of the Chiefs, same as we will during the regular season, with the help of colleague Pete Grathoff, too — and it also provides us comprehensive insight when we ask ourselves a timely question:
If Mahomes will see only limited time, which players are we most eager to see in the first preseason game Saturday?
Kingsley Suamataia, left tackle
Three years ago, the Chiefs plugged two rookies into their offensive line, with center Creed Humphrey and guard Trey Smith.
From Day One.
They’ve made Kingsley Suamataia battle for his first-team reps at left tackle, but all signs point toward him opening the preseason — and eventually the regular season — as the starter protecting the blind side of Patrick Mahomes.
Truth? He’s had his ups and downs in training camp, which, well, is to be expected for a rookie left tackle. The transition at that position tends to take some time.
It’s to be determined how much the Jaguars play their starters, but it would stand to benefit Suamataia to face the likes of Josh Hines-Allen (17 1/2 sacks) and Travon Walker (10 sacks). A glimpse of what awaits.
Mahomes will likely depart the game after a series, as mentioned, but expect to see Suamataia get more playing time.
—Sam McDowell
Justyn Ross, wide receiver
Justyn Ross has been the king of wowing on social-media highlight clips … though that hype has never matched his actual on-field production. Ross’ previous injuries have limited his speed and separation ability, and to be honest, he appeared to be a likely cut candidate through the first few days of training camp while failing to stand out in a crowded receiver room.
That all has changed, though, during the last few practices in St. Joseph. Ross has emerged as one of the Chiefs’ best wideouts lately, impressing with his sideline ability while winning multiple jump-ball catches in the end zone.
Chiefs coaches also seemed to notice this uptick, giving Ross a handful of first-team reps in recent days. Ross still is no roster lock, as his 6-foot-4 frame functions best as a red-zone threat that might not be as necessary with big-bodied rookie tight end Jared Wiley now on the roster.
Ross producing in this preseason game, however, could make the Chiefs’ decision a lot more difficult. I’d expect KC to give him plenty of snaps to see how he performs.
—Jesse Newell
Louis Rees-Zammit, running back
Elusive Louis Rees-Zammit sure earned the nickname “Rees Lighting,” and his highlight reels are riveting.
But enough about his rugby days.
The 23-year-old Welshman who will be playing in his first football game, never even put on a helmet and shoulder pads until he entered the NFL’s International Player Pathway program in January. To say nothing about trying to learn one of the most sophisticated offenses in the NFL. At least for now, the intriguing longshot’s best chance to stick is on special teams as a gunner, returner and potential kicking option.
“You can see his athletic ability,” coach Andy Reid said. “He’s just got to get used to doing all the different things we’re asking him to do.”
—Vahe Gregorian
Carson Steele, fullback
The Chiefs unveiled their first depth chart of the season the week of the preseason opener, and there was only one unexpected starter on the list: fullback Carson Steele.
The surprise is the Chiefs listed a fullback. They didn’t carry one on the roster last season for the first time in the Andy Reid era. The 6-foot, 228-pound Steele, an undrafted free agent who played at UCLA, has earned praise from coaches.
Special teams participation also could be the key to Steele’s chances of making the roster.
—Blair Kerkhoff
Chamarri Conner, cornerback
When it comes to the pursuit of the NFL’s first three-peat champion, one of the most relevant names in the equation is one not even on the current roster.
L’Jarius Sneed.
The Chiefs built their defensive game plans with the understanding that Sneed would travel with an opposing team’s No. 1 wide receiver — and with the belief that he’d shut him down.
What now?
The Chiefs tagged and traded Sneed to the Titans, and here’s the dilemma: Sneed was so good last year that not even Sneed himself could replicate that season.
The aftermath will prompt a chain reaction that will most prominently benefit not a cornerback but a natural safety.
Chamarri Conner, a second-year safety, has been lining up as the nickel cornerback, kicking last year’s slot corner, Trent McDuffie, to the outside. McDuffie will have some competition there. (Read on to one of Jesse Newell’s players for more on that.) But the Chiefs need Conner to take a pretty big step forward, or it could drastically alter the effectiveness of a defense that ranked second in the NFL last year. Some confidence in the preseason would provide a good foundation.
—Sam McDowell
Joshua Williams, cornerback
The Chiefs are still searching for a reliable CB2 to play alongside All-Pro Trent McDuffie, with defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo saying this week the team still isn’t seeing separation at that spot.
Considering that backdrop, this is an excellent opportunity for Williams to show what he can do in a game when his main competitors might not play. Teammates Jaylen Watson and Nazeeh Johnson are working their way back from injuries, making it unlikely either will suit up for the team’s preseason opener.
Williams — at 6 foot 3 and 193 pounds — certainly looks the part, and his physicality in man coverage helped him earn some above-average Pro Football Focus grades a season ago. Can he be better in zone coverage, though, while also flashing more consistency play to play? Saturday would be a great time to prove he’s ready for a bigger role.
—Jesse Newell
Bryan Cook, safety
A year ago in St. Joseph, second-year safety Bryan Cook was emerging not only as the replacement for Juan Thornhill, but as a sometimes-mistaken-but-never-in-doubt leader:
“He might be completely wrong (in a play call),” teammate Nick Bolton said then, “but he makes you believe he’s 100% right.”
Cook became a key part of a resurgent defense, highlighted by his touchdown against Miami in Germany, only to suffer a hideous season-ending ankle injury at Green Bay. But even amid his devastation, he kept contributing motivation to his fellow defensive backs, as The Star’s Sam McDowell reported in January.
That reflected his drive to get back on the field, where his return to health — and volume — has been evident, and his leadership will be especially crucial with counterpart Justin Reid’s timetable to return from a quad injury still uncertain.
—Vahe Gregorian
Felix Anudike-Uzomah, defensive end
Because training camp is mostly non-contact, it’s difficult to evaluate players who don’t touch the ball.
But Felix Anudike-Uzomah has looked faster off the edge than last season, and he’s been impressive in drills.
Coaches have said improving Anudike-Uzomah’s “get-off” was the off-season objective, and Saturday will be the first time seeing his first step — shaped in part through tutoring sessions with former Chiefs great Tamba Hali — in game action.
Also, with the unknown timetable of Charles Omenihu’s return, the Chiefs will need quality snaps from the 2023 first-round draft selection.
