If these KC Chiefs don’t play Sunday, they’ll leave milestones & incentives on table

Resting starters for a regular-season finale is an advantage the Chiefs have experienced in recent years, but it can also cost some players milestone achievements.

For instance, Patrick Mahomes has 3,928 passing yards this season. Andy Reid said Wednesday that Carson Wentz will start at the Denver Broncos on Sunday.

If Mahomes doesn’t play, he’ll finish below 4,000 passing yards in a full season for the first time in his career. He could become the first quarterback in NFL history with at least 4,000 passing yards in seven of his first eight years. Remember, Mahomes played in only one game as a rookie, filling in for starter Alex Smith in the final game.

Tight end Travis Kelce leads the Chiefs with 97 receptions and could fall short of 100. Last year, he needed 16 yards to reach 1,000 and decided to pass on the opportunity.

Reid said the team has conversations with players who have milestones or contract incentives at stake in the final game.

“Sure, I look that those,” Reid said. “We look at all that, like we did with Chris (Jones) last year. “We want the guys to be able to reach them if it is reachable.”

A year ago, the Chiefs were locked into the No. 3 seed entering the finale and Reid sat most starters. But Jones needed a sack to reach a $1.25 million contract incentive. Jones started and got his sack in the third quarter.

This year, wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins has multiple bonus incentives in his contract. According to spotrac.com, Hopkins collects an additional $250,000 for 65 receptions. He’s at 56 with his 14 catches for Tennessee and 41 for the Chiefs.

Hopkins needs 140 yards for 750, and one touchdown for six, each triggering additional $250,000 bonuses.

If Hopkins plays, it likely will be with several who aren’t starters. Wentz is a nine-year veteran, but will be appearing in his third game this season. He’s taken snaps in four games over the past two seasons.

Besides Wentz for Mahomes, Reid did not identify other starters who won’t start — or whose playing time will be limited.

Last season, besides Mahomes and Kelce, Rashee Rice and L’Jarius Sneed were inactive. Others like Justin Reid, Trent McDuffie and Nick Bolton dressed but didn’t play.

Kelce said on his New Heights podcast after the game that he wasn’t interested in padding his numbers.

“It never felt right to go out there chasing stats,” Kelce said. “I was kind of in and out of practice all week. For me to jump in on game day and try to get 15-16 yards ... is a lot harder than you guys think it is.”