Back to the Preseason Updates Landing Page.
One of the best and most comprehensive features we offer every year is our Footballguys Preseason Updates. Every week this month, Bob Henry, Jason Wood, Clayton Gray, and their team of Footballguys Staffers cover every player that matters from every NFL team. It's 32-plus pages of some of the most comprehensive coverage you'll find. It's probably worth the Footballguys Premium Subscription by itself.
Updates from Week 4
Preseason Updates: Quarterbacks
Patrick Mahomes II and the first-team offense hummed through three scoring drives in the preseason finale. Mahomes had little trouble finding both starters and reserves en route to a dazzling 11.0 yards per throw. A perfectly placed back-shoulder touchdown to Rashee Rice suggests he's locked and loaded for Opening Day. Even the Chicago Sun-Times' Patrick Finley gave frustrated praise: "There was nothing the Bears could do to slow [Mahomes] down." Most encouragingly, the Chiefs' retooled front line continued to draw rave reviews in protection. "It's kind of like cliché, but it all starts up front," Mahomes said after the game. "When the offensive line is blocking like that, it gets the offense going." Gardner Minshew has almost surely held down the backup job over fellow journeyman Bailey Zappe. Minshew stepped in after Mahomes on Friday and led a methodical 13-play scoring drive of his own.
Preseason Updates: Running Backs
As expected, Isiah Pacheco led the backfield rotation handily in the preseason finale, and he looked dynamic in the process. Pacheco turned his 3 rushes into 21 yards and scored a short touchdown, one play after goal-line RB Kareem Hunt failed to find the end zone. Pacheco should be back to bellcow status over the 30-year-old Hunt, who looks situational at this point. Few expect ex-49er Elijah Mitchell to stick on the final roster. Mitchell looked explosive in Kyle Shanahan's scheme, but injuries have sapped most of that at just 27. His spot has almost surely been snatched by dual-threat rookie Brashard Smith, who's been the talk of camp. "Man, the guy has all the athletic talent," TE Travis Kelce told media last week. "We love what we've seen so far in terms of his growth every single day. We're throwing a lot at him… I think he's going to keep getting better and better as these weeks go on, and you'll see it in preseason games." Smith saw extensive run with the starters against the Bears and drew three targets, dropping one and catching another for a first down. It appears he's wiped out the team's need to look into veteran pass-catching backs on the cut market.
