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Chiefs Before Preseason Game #2: Everything You Need to Know

The Chiefs–Seahawks showdown is only days out, and the team’s got fresh, positive notes from this week—use this guide to get up to speed fast.

Schedule & How to Watch

  • Time: 7:00 PM PT, Friday, Aug. 15 (Vietnam: 09:00, Saturday, Aug. 16)

  • Venue: Lumen Field, Seattle

  • Local TV: KSHB 41 (Kansas City area); KING 5 (Seattle area)

  • Radio: Seattle Sports 710 AM / KIRO 97.3 FM; (KC: check local affiliate list)

  • Streaming: NFL+ (out-of-market live stream; blackout restrictions apply)


  • Three Things to Watch

    1) Will Mahomes play? Signs point to no

    Andy Reid has indicated there’s a strong chance Patrick Mahomes won’t suit up in Game 2. QB Gardner Minshew has taken a healthy share of first-team reps during the week, suggesting the spotlight will shift toward the tempo and ball security of the reserve offense rather than the Mahomes–Kelce core.

    What to track: Minshew’s third-down decisions and how quickly he syncs with the rotating WR/TE group.

    2) Secondary depth under the microscope

    The opener was costly: Deon Bush (Achilles) is out for the season, and Jaylen Watson entered the concussion protocol. That means extra snaps for depth options at safety/corner and forces Dave Toub to retool special teams, where Bush was a key piece. Expect a structural test for both the defensive backfield and the kicking units.

    3) A “Backups vs. Starters” stress test

    On Seattle’s side, head coach Mike Macdonald has indicated some starters will play—at least briefly. With Kansas City likely dialing back starter minutes, this becomes a realistic barometer for the Chiefs’ roster spots 35–53 against Seattle’s first-team looks.


    Across the Field: What Seattle Is Doing

    New OC Klint Kubiak has installed his offense, and Macdonald wants the starters to find live rhythm before Week 1. If the plan holds, Sam Darnold is expected to lead the first few series.


    Why Game 2 Matters for the Chiefs

    • Shaping QB2 and the reserve offense: If Minshew runs clean drives (low penalties, zero giveaways), confidence in the “no-Mahomes” structure rises. If not, Reid may bump starter reps in Game 3.

  • Reordering the secondary & special teams: With Bush/Watson sidelined, the pecking order at safety/slot corner and across punt/kick units is in flux—prime opportunity for bubble players.

  • Depth durability check: With many stars resting, every sure tackle and ball-secure drive can move the roster math.


  • Quick Facts (drop-in for posters/social)

    • Kickoff: 7:00 PM PT Fri Aug 15 (VN 09:00 Sat Aug 16) — Lumen Field

  • Watch: KSHB 41 (KC), KING 5 (SEA), NFL+ (out of market)

  • Chiefs notes: Mahomes likely out; emphasis on Minshew + reserves. Secondary without Bush (IR), Watson (concussion protocol).

  • Seahawks notes: Select starters expected to play briefly to settle into Kubiak’s new system.

  • Raiders Reunite with a Former Starter to Fortify the Offensive Line
    Las Vegas, NV   The Las Vegas Raiders have brought back a familiar face in a move that screams both urgency and savvy: versatile offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor is returning to the Silver & Black on a one-year deal (terms not disclosed), reuniting with the franchise where he logged some of the best football of his career and immediately fortifying a position group that has been stretched thin. Eluemunor, 31, started for the Raiders from 2021–2023, showing rare position flexibility across right tackle and guard while anchoring pass protection against premier edge rushers. His technique, anchor, and ability to handle long-arm power made him a steadying force during multiple playoff pushes. After departing Vegas, Eluemunor spent time elsewhere refining his craft, but a confluence of roster needs and scheme familiarity has set the stage for a timely homecoming. For the Raiders—fighting to keep pace in a rugged AFC—this is about stability and fit. Injuries and week-to-week availability on the right side of the line have forced constant shuffling; protection packages have leaned heavily on chips and condensed splits to survive obvious passing downs. Eluemunor’s return allows the staff to plug him at RT or slide him inside at RG, restoring balance to protections and widening the run-game menu (duo, inside zone, and the toss/ pin-pull that Vegas fans love when the edge is sealed). “Jermaine knows who we are and how we want to play,” a team source said. “He brings ballast. Assignment sound, physical, and smart—he raises the floor for the entire unit.” Beyond the X’s and O’s, there’s an unmistakable emotional charge to this reunion. Eluemunor was a locker-room favorite in his previous stint—professional, detail-driven, and accountable. The belief internally is that his presence stabilizes communication on the right side (IDs, slides, and pass-off rules vs. games and simulated pressures), which in turn unlocks more vertical concepts and keeps the quarterback cleaner late in games. On social media, Raider Nation lit up the timeline with a simple refrain: “Welcome back, Jem.” Many fans called the deal the exact kind of “rival-poach, ready-to-play” move a contender makes in October: low friction, high impact, zero learning curve. What it means on the field (immediately): Pass pro: Fewer emergency chips, more five-out releases—OC can re-open deeper intermediate shots without living in max-protect. Run game: Better edge control on toss/duo; more confidence running to the right on money downs. Depth & versatility: One injury doesn’t force a cascade of position changes; Eluemunor can cover two spots with starting-level competency. The timetable? Swift. Because Eluemunor already speaks the language—terminology, splits, cadence rules—he could suit up as early as this weekend if the medicals/check-ins continue to trend positive. The message is clear: the Raiders aren’t waiting around for the line to gel—they’re engineering it. If Jermaine Eluemunor plays to his Raider résumé, this reunion could be the precise mid-season jolt that steadies the offense and keeps the Silver & Black firmly in the postseason race. Raider Nation, the question writes itself: Plug-and-play stopgap—or the catalyst that reclaims the right side