Chiefs Star Chris Jones: ‘I Refuse to Play Preseason Games’
Chiefs vs. Rams Preseason Showdown: Starters Take a Seat on Saturday
The Big Picture: A Different Kind of Football Game
Imagine showing up for a big school play, but the lead actors are watching from the audience while the understudies perform. That’s basically what’s happening this Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium when the Kansas City Chiefs host the Los Angeles Rams for a preseason game.
Both teams have decided to keep their most important players—the starting quarterbacks—on the bench.
IMPORTANT POINT
This is a preseason game, which means it doesn’t count toward the regular season record. Think of it like a scrimmage or practice game where teams test things out before the real games begin.
Who’s Playing Quarterback? (The Backup Plan)
Instead of the superstar starters, here’s who will be throwing passes:
Kansas City Chiefs
- Patrick Mahomes (Reigning MVP, Super Bowl winner) → RESTING
- Backup QBs will get the playing time
Los Angeles Rams
- Matthew Stafford (Super Bowl winner, veteran leader) → RESTING
- Stetson Bennett (Career backup, former Georgia star) → STARTING
Bonus change for the Rams: Head coach Sean McVay is also taking the night off from play-calling. Offensive coordinator Nate Scheelhaase (a Kansas City local who went to Rockhurst High School) will call the plays instead.
Chris Jones Has Thoughts: "Why Risk It?"
Chiefs star defensive tackle Chris Jones—one of the best defensive players in the league—shared his honest opinion about preseason games. Here’s what he thinks:
Chris Jones’ Preseason Philosophy
- High Risk, Low Reward – "There’s so much risk to playing the starters in the preseason."
- Protect the Stars – He hopes Coach Andy Reid says: "You know what, starters don’t play."
- But He’s a Pro – "If I do have to play, I’m going to buckle up."
The Competitor in Him
Even though he doesn’t want to play, Jones admits:
"I want to play against your starters… because you like to weigh yourself out, where I’m at and where I can improve. Give me your best talent."
So he gets it both ways: smart business decision vs. competitive fire.
What This Means for Saturday’s Game
The Matchup Mismatch
- Chiefs Starting Defense (if they play) vs. Rams "B-" or "C+" Offense
- No Stafford, no McVay play-calling, backup QB Stetson Bennett
- It’s like the varsity defense practicing against the JV offense
Why Teams Do This
| Reason | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Injury Prevention | Star players getting hurt in meaningless games = disaster |
| Evaluation | Coaches need to see backups and rookies in real game action |
| Rest | Long season ahead (17 regular games + playoffs) |
| Strategy | Don’t put good tape on film for opponents to study |
The Bigger Debate: Preseason Philosophy
This brings up the eternal NFL question: How much should starters play in the preseason?
Two Schools of Thought
Camp "Rest Everyone"
- Preseason games are meaningless
- Risk of injury outweighs any benefit
- Joint practices with other teams give better, controlled work
- Modern players train year-round anyway
Camp "Get Some Reps"
- Football is about rhythm and timing
- Live game speed can’t be replicated in practice
- Young players need reps with veterans
- Avoid "rust" to start the regular season
Summary: What to Expect Saturday Night
- Don’t expect fireworks from the star players—they’ll be in street clothes or baseball caps on the sideline
- Watch the bubble players—guys fighting for the last roster spots (numbers 50-53)
- See Stetson Bennett get his most extensive NFL action yet
- Watch Nate Scheelhaase audition for future coordinator jobs
- Chris Jones might play a series or two—but don’t be surprised if he doesn’t
- It’s a glorified practice—enjoy it for what it is: football in August!
FAQ: Your Preseason Questions Answered
Do preseason games count toward the regular season record?
Nope! They’re exhibition games. Teams play 3 preseason games (used to be 4), then the 17-game regular season starts. A team can go 0-3 in preseason and still win the Super Bowl (it’s happened!).
Why did the NFL reduce preseason games from 4 to 3?
They added a 17th regular season game (used to be 16) and players pushed for fewer meaningless games. More real games, fewer fake ones.
What are "joint practices" that Chris Jones mentioned?
Two teams practice together for a few days instead of playing a game. It’s controlled—coaches decide the situations, no live tackling to the ground, way less injury risk. Most players and coaches prefer these over preseason games.
Who is Stetson Bennett and why should I care?
He won two national championships at Georgia (2021, 2022), was drafted by the Rams in 2023, but missed his rookie year due to a non-football issue. This is his chance to show he belongs in the NFL. Great underdog story!
Will Patrick Mahomes and Matthew Stafford play ANY preseason snaps?
Probably not. Modern NFL philosophy: franchise QBs don’t play in preseason. The risk of a freak injury (like tearing an ACL on a routine handoff) isn’t worth a few meaningless series.
So grab your snacks, enjoy the football, but remember: the real season starts in September. Saturday is just the appetizer!