The Kansas City Chiefs are heading into their preseason opener against the Los Angeles Rams with some real intrigue bubbling up behind Patrick Mahomes and Justin Fields. While the primary backup spot for Mahomes looks set with Fields at QB2, it’s that No. 3 quarterback battle that’s anything but straightforward.
The QB3 Depth Chart Shake-Up
On the Chiefs’ first unofficial depth chart, it’s Garrett Nussmeier holding down the QB3 spot, with fifth-year signal-caller Chris Oladokun listed at No. 4. Now, if you’ve been paying attention, that ranking for Nussmeier might feel a little surprising, especially considering Kansas City drafted him in the seventh round this year. Oladokun, on the other hand, has way more experience in this Chiefs offense, and he’s even got a surprise start under his belt from last season.
Coach Reid confirmed that Mahomes won’t be suiting up for the game on Saturday against the Rams. Instead, we’ll see Fields, Nussmeier, and Oladokun splitting reps. This is where it gets interesting, because how those reps shake out could totally flip that No. 3 spot on its head.
Oladokun’s Unforgettable Christmas Start
You gotta remember that Christmas Day game in 2025, right? KC was already eliminated from the playoff hunt, totally stacked against them. Mahomes and his backup Gardner Minshew were both sidelined with season-ending injuries. Talk about being thrown into the fire! Oladokun stepped in against the eventual top-seeded Broncos. The dude didn’t light up the stat sheet, going 13-of-22 for just 66 yards, but he definitely didn’t cost them the game in a closer-than-expected 20-13 loss. He even slung a first-half touchdown to running back Brashard Smith that put them up 7-6 at halftime!
Oladokun, after waiting four years on the practice squad, nearly led a monumental upset. He hit Travis Kelce three times for 23 yards and even ripped off a 7-yard run on a potential game-tying drive. A costly penalty and two incomplete passes ultimately crushed that dream, but man, he earned some serious respect around the league and undoubtedly from his own locker room for that fight. Sure, he came up short again the next week in a two-point loss to the Raiders, but that grit, that fight? That’s what you wanna see.
So, as we head into Saturday’s game against the Rams, keep your eyes glued to how those snaps get distributed. Oladokun is absolutely expected to make things interesting at that No. 3 spot. If he shows up with that same fire he brought on Christmas Day, this battle for QB3 is gonna get real interesting, real fast.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Turf Show Times.
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