What's happened
AP News reports Kansas City is evaluating Garrett Nussmeier behind Patrick Mahomes and Justin Fields as they prepare for a preseason finale with Seattle; Tampa Bay’s Baker Mayfield and others provide competition and context as the league tests depth.
What's behind the headline?
Analysis
- The Chiefs are clearly prioritizing quarterback development behind a starter who has demonstrated elite performance. Nussmeier’s progression is under close scrutiny as he learns from Mahomes and a veteran coaching staff.
- Fields’ presence offers a reality check: he is being evaluated in a system built around playmaking but with limited regular-season repetition. It’s a test of how quickly he can adapt to high-level schemes.
- The preseason results shape roster decisions, buy-in from the coaching staff, and potential future trades for depth at the QB position.
- The narrative underscores how teams balance development with performance when rosters tighten, signaling that evaluation will continue into Week 4 of the preseason.
How we got here
The Chiefs have used the preseason to get a longer look at Garrett Nussmeier behind Mahomes and Fields, amid Mahomes’ knee rehab and Fields’ trade-origin story. The Buccaneers, with Mayfield at the helm, provide a contrasting scenario in the same week.
Our analysis
AP News reports on Chiefs quarterback development behind Patrick Mahomes and Justin Fields, with Nussmeier receiving reps in the run-up to the preseason finale vs. Seattle; Tampa Bay’s Baker Mayfield action highlights another subplot as teams measure depth at QB.
Go deeper
- What does Nussmeier’s performance mean for the Chiefs’ QB room this season?
- How might Fields’ outing influence the Chiefs’ long-term plan at quarterback?
- Will Mahomes play in the next preseason game or will the Chiefs rest him for Week 1?
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers - American football team
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football team based in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers compete in the National Football League as a member club of the league's National Football Conference South division.
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Patrick Mahomes - American football quarterback
Patrick Lavon Mahomes II is an American football quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He is the son of former Major League Baseball pitcher Pat Mahomes.
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Garrett Nussmeier - American football player
Garrett Paul Nussmeier (born February 7, 2002) is an American professional football quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at LSU and was selected by the Chiefs in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL draft. He is the son of Doug Nussmeier, former NFL player and current offensive coordinator of the New Orleans Saints.
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Justin Fields - American football quarterback
Justin Skyler Fields is an American football dual-threat quarterback for the Ohio State Buckeyes. Fields began his career with Georgia in 2018 then transferred to Ohio State in 2019.
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Kansas City Chiefs - American football team
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Chiefs compete in the National Football League as a member club of the league's American Football Conference West division.