Five Chiefs players I’m intrigued to watch in Denver. Patrick Mahomes isn’t one of them

The Chiefs are sending quarterback Patrick Mahomes to the bench.

No, but really.

Andy Reid made official Wednesday what anyone who has followed his Kansas City tenure already knew: Carson Wentz will start at quarterback in the Chiefs’ regular-season finale in Denver.

The Chiefs have already locked up the No. 1 seed in the AFC, regardless of the outcome against the Broncos, giving Mahomes a week off.

Andy Reid was mum on which other starters will join Mahomes on the bench Sunday, but there will undoubtedly be some; don’t expect to see Travis Kelce, Chris Jones or Isiah Pacheco, among others.

But you can’t rest everyone. The roster is only 53 players, with league rules providing the chance to elevate two more from the practice squad.

Here are five players I’m eager to see receive some additional playing time:

1. D.J. Humphries, left tackle

To say this game has zero impact on the Chiefs’ playoff chances isn’t completely true.

There’s one player who could — emphasis on could — greatly influence their postseason run.

D.J. Humphries.

It’s crazy to say about a 15-1 team, but the Chiefs are still analyzing their best options for the man protecting the blindside of Patrick Mahomes.

They’ve started four different left tackles this season, and have most recently asked a guard to play there.

Joe Thuney has been fine at left tackle. Just that: fine. But fine has been a sizable upgrade to the left tackle play the Chiefs endured for the first couple of months.

The downfall of using Thuney as a Band-Aid solution at left tackle, however, is that it breaks up the biggest non-quarterback strength of the team — a dominant interior line. It’s not a coincidence the Chiefs haven’t run the ball as effectively since moving Thuney to left tackle, even if they’ve had to make the switch to stand any chance in the passing game.

The ideal scenario reverts Thuney back to the interior, but, uh, who will play left tackle?

Humphries is the only realistic answer remaining, after Kingsley Suamataia and then Wanya Morris failed in their stints.

If Humphries starts against the Broncos, and Reid has hinted but been cautious to outright say it, he would have to overwhelm in Week 18 to be the guy in the playoffs. Keep in mind, he’s played all of 60 snaps this season, his only action in all of 2024 after recovering from knee surgery. And whatever snaps he plays in Denver won’t be with Mahomes.

Would that be a long enough stint to have confidence he’s ready for a playoff run?

2. Carson Wentz, quarterback

The quarterback is always the top story in Kansas City.

Just not usually this one.

Let’s call it like it is: Wentz is the first quarterback to back up Mahomes who really should probably be a starter somewhere. Wentz is still one of the best 32 quarterbacks on the planet.

Anyone see last Sunday’s NFL matchups?

Mac Jones vs. Mason Rudolph.

Joe Flacco vs. Drew Lock.

Spencer Rattler vs. Aidan O’Connell.

Dorian Thompson-Robinson vs. Tyler Huntley.

That comprised half the Sunday midday games last week. So yeah, I’d say there’s still room for Wentz to find a starting job somewhere.

There will be eyes on him from front-office personnel across the league. He’s playing for an opportunity.

But this isn’t just about his own future.

The Chiefs have needed a backup quarterback in two of the past four playoff runs. Chad Henne finished off a Divisional Round win after Mahomes departed with concussion symptoms against the Browns in the 2022 season; and Henne led a touchdown drive after Mahomes begrudgingly left for X-rays on an injured ankle against the Jaguars.

3. Justyn Ross, wide receiver

A caveat at the top: Ross is not on the 53-man roster, so the Chiefs would have to use one of their two practice squad elevations on him.

They should.

Xavier Worthy will likely accompany Mahomes on the sideline, and maybe Hollywood Brown, too. DeAndre Hopkins might strictly play red zone situations to help him reach an incentive based on his touchdown total, but that might be about it.

That leaves only Nikko Remigio, Justin Watson and JuJu Smith-Schuster as available, and I’m not sure the Chiefs want to throw heavy workloads on Smith-Schuster and Watson either.

So bring on Justyn Ross.

There’s a particular reason I’m intrigued by the possibility of seeing Ross: Wentz loved throwing the ball his way in training camp when they frequently worked together with the second unit.

Ross doesn’t separate well, but he has a huge catch radius. Wentz showed a willingness to throw back-shoulder fades to him in camp.

That’s his tendency. In his last year as a starter (2022), Wentz threw the fifth-highest percentage of tight-window throws in the league.

It’s a good match.

4. Nikko Remigio, wide receiver

Another wideout makes the list.

But it’s for another reason.

Remigio impressed during training camp, until a sour performance in the preseason opener against Jacksonville ruined his momentum. He’s a much different type of receiver than Ross — smaller, faster and more slippery. But the key here is that he’s on the 53-man roster as the primary punt and kick returner during Mecole Hardman’s absence.

Hardman, who’s been out with a knee injury, opened his 21-day practice window Wednesday, putting him in line to return for the playoffs.

If Remigio can prove he has value beyond the return roles, he could give the Chiefs something to think about when that decision comes.

5. Kingsley Suamataia, offensive lineman

I don’t know if anyone can say they’re eager to watch Suamataia play, because it was an adventure when he opened the year at left tackle.

But since the benching, there’s been internal talk about whether his best position for the long-term is left tackle. What about guard?

A year ago in a similar situation, the Chiefs rotated their linemen the entire game — even putting Creed Humphrey at guard. Andy Reid hinted there could similarly be some rotation in Denver.

Within the mixing and matching, might the Chiefs offer us a peek at where they see Suamataia fitting in the future by putting him in the game?

Consider me intrigued, if they do.