Chiefs Will Rest Patrick Mahomes, Start Blaine Gabbert for Week 18 vs. Chargers

Kansas City already locked up the division.

Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid told reporters Wednesday that quarterback Patrick Mahomes won’t play in the team’s regular season finale against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. Blaine Gabbert will get the start. 

Mahomes won’t be the only starter to sit out for Kansas City, per Reid, having already locked up the AFC West. His season ends with 4,183 passing yards and 27 touchdowns to 14 interceptions in his 16 games played. He completed 67.2% of his passes in his eighth year out of Texas Tech. 

Gabbert will get his first start since 2018 while playing for the Tennessee Titans. So far this year, he’s appeared in just one game for Kansas City where he threw two interceptions in five attempts against the Chicago Bears on Sept. 24. 

The Chiefs (10–6) and Chargers (5–11) are set to square off Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET on CBS at SoFi Stadium.