The final slate of preseason games will be in the books after this weekend, meaning the roster cutdowns will begin early next week. So it’s no wonder this time of year can be extremely nerve-wracking, especially for young players, who are doing everything they can to realize their NFL dreams. On Tuesday, August 29, at 3 p.m. CDT, all 32 teams must cut their rosters down from 90 players to 53.
Kansas City won’t need to worry about those tough decisions until after they finish their final exhibition game when they host the Clevland Browns at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday. Although his job is more than safe, quarterback Patrick Mahomes admits it’s tough knowing many of his fellow teammates he spent the summer with likely won’t make the team.
“It’s hard. I don’t like to follow it too closely,” Mahomes explained. “I’m rooting for everybody. It’s hard to sit there and – you don’t want to promote for one guy to make it over another because this is people’s livelihoods, this is people’s lives. I let those guys, Brett Veach and coach (Andy) Reid, handle that, Clark Hunt, everyone like that. They do a good job of finding the best players to put in a position to have success. I don’t follow that too closely – it’s hard for me. I like all the guys in the locker room, but it’s hard to see guys, even if it’s [just] for a moment; their dreams kind of get cut right there, so it definitely is a hard day for everybody in this league.”
Mahomes’ feelings about this time of year exemplify how much of an exceptional leader he is in the Chiefs locker room and how he wants to take as many young guys under his wing as possible. Unfortunately, that won’t be the case when 37 players for Kansas City will be on the street in just a few days from now. Luckily, the preseason also acts as a dress rehearsal for players to earn opportunities with another club.
He and Chiefs fans alike will have to wait and see who makes the team and who doesn’t.
