KCSN Weekly: Mahomes Likely Sitting Preseason Week 1, Royals Deal at the Deadline, and the Injury Bug Bites Camp
A weekly look at everything happening across Kansas City sports.
Training camp is in full swing, the Royals are rebuilding on the fly, and Sporting KC is still searching for answers. Here is where things stand heading into the weekend.
Chiefs Check-in: Don't Expect Mahomes in Preseason Game One, +more updates
Kansas City’s three-time Super Bowl Champion head coach provided some clarity Friday afternoon. Andy Reid made clear that Patrick Mahomes will almost certainly not play in next Saturday’s preseason opener against the Los Angeles Rams at Arrowhead Stadium.
“There’s a pretty good chance I don’t play him,” Reid said. “The percentages are leaning that way. I’m not sure I’ll play him in the second or third game either.”
Coming from a coach who has historically gotten his starter preseason reps, that is a notable departure. But given that Mahomes is returning from ACL and LCL surgery, it should register as a sigh of relief rather than a cause for concern. The goal is September 14, not August 15. Getting him through training camp healthy and building toward the regular season is the only thing that matters.
The injury report has been the other dominant story of the week. Wide receiver Xavier Worthy and Cyrus Allen both exited practice early last weekend, which momentarily sent a jolt through camp. Worthy’s issue was minimized quickly and is considered short-term.
Allen’s looked more severe at first glance, but the shin bruise he suffered turned out to be manageable, and he returned to practice today in a limited capacity, participating in his first padded session of camp. Whether he can carry over the buzz he generated before the pads went on is the next question to answer.
As of Friday, Trey Smith (hip), Drue Tranquill (back), Jeffrey Bassa (groin), Kristian Fulton (hip), Ashton Gillotte (hamstring), and Omarr Norman-Lott (PUP/knee) were all held out, with L’Jarius Sneed’s absence being largely attributed to load management. Mansoor Delane remains in a non-contact yellow jersey with his shoulder.
The biggest on-field storyline of camp continues to be undrafted free agent Kahlil Benson, who has been taking first-team reps at right tackle throughout the week. Today brought a new wrinkle, with Benson sliding inside to right guard to fill in for the injured Smith while Jaylon Moore reclaimed the right tackle spot.
What that means for the competition is unclear, but it does underscore Benson’s versatility, which we did not really know about previously. The first preseason game cannot come soon enough for those trying to get a real read on the undrafted 2026 National Champion.
Today marked day nine of training camp. The Chiefs practice tomorrow before a day off Sunday, then return Monday through Thursday ahead of the Rams game next Saturday.
Royals Report: Tommy John, Trade Deadline Moves, and a Rocky Week
It was a difficult week in Kansas City on multiple fronts, starting with the rotation.
Manager Matt Quatraro announced that starting pitchers Luinder Avila and Stephen Kolek will both undergo Tommy John surgery, ending their seasons. The news comes on the heels of ace Cole Ragans undergoing UCL repair back in early July, leaving the rotation in a state of significant flux.
The silver lining, if there is one, is what it means for Daniel Lynch IV.
Lynch’s return to the rotation is an intriguing development, and one the Royals are eager to explore as they begin piecing together their 2027 foundation. The 34th overall pick in the 2020 draft, Lynch spent the early part of his career grinding through the rotation, posting a 5.18 ERA over 51 starts from 2021 to 2023.
The Royals moved him to the bullpen in 2024, and it has gone largely well. Now he gets another chance to show what he can do as a starter, with a roster that has nothing to lose by finding out.
On the field, results were mixed. The Royals took a series from the Minnesota Twins but were swept by the 45-70 Colorado Rockies by a 15-run margin. The bright spots were, once again, the rotation’s reliable arms.
Noah Cameron was at the top of his game this week, shoving eight innings of one-run baseball with nine strikeouts. Randy Dobnak and Michael Wacha were equally sharp, each allowing just one run in their starts.
Jac Caglianone continued his strong second half with a home run, a .300 average, and a team-high five RBI on the week. Bobby Witt Jr. returned from the IL and wasted no time, collecting six hits and two doubles across his first three games back.
The trade deadline came and went, with general manager J.J. Picollo making a clear decision to sell, at least to some degree, and restock. The Royals shipped outfielder Lane Thomas and reliever Bailey Falter to Atlanta, starter Kris Bubic to the Dodgers, and reliever Manuel Colon to the Philadelphia Phillies. In return, Kansas City landed left-hander Carter Holton, right-hander Lucas Braun, right-hander Nolan Hoffman, and right-hander Carlos Duran.
Duran, still a 25-year-old, was once a top-20 prospect in the Dodgers organization and carries a 3.30 ERA in Triple-A this season with a 61-to-42 strikeout-to-innings-pitched ratio.
Braun, acquired from Atlanta, slots in immediately as the Royals’ 11th-ranked prospect according to MLB Pipeline, boasting a 3.43 ERA across four minor league seasons while averaging better than a strikeout per inning. It is not a blockbuster haul, but it is a purposeful one for an organization that is clearly thinking beyond 2026.
The Royals host three against the Chicago Cubs before heading to Los Angeles for three against the Dodgers starting Monday.
Sporting Scoops: Another Loss, This Time to Houston
Sporting dropped a 2-0 decision to Houston Dynamo FC last weekend, giving up two goals in the 55th and 71st minutes after taking a draw into halftime. The club matched Houston with four shots on goal and had their moments, but possession sat at just 36 percent.
The match was made more difficult when Lasse Berg Johnson was shown a red card just before the break. Sporting remains in last place in the Western Conference at 4-2-11.
What to Watch This Week
Chiefs
Practice Saturday, off Sunday
Four practices Monday through Thursday
Royals (48-68)
Home vs. Chicago Cubs (67-49) for three
At Los Angeles Dodgers (69-46) starting Monday for three games
Sporting KC (4-2-11)
Off this week