Chiefs backup quarterback intrigue could shape Rams preseason
Chiefs backup quarterback intrigue is a live subplot entering the Rams preseason opener, and Patrick Mahomes’ absence creates a controlled audition window that will matter for both teams’ contingency planning and scouting evaluations.
Kansas City plans to split reps among Justin Fields, Garrett Nussmeier and Chris Oladokun per reporting from Turf Show Times, while the Rams opened the preseason with Stetson Bennett listed as Matthew Stafford’s backup and rookie Ty Simpson at No. 3.
Key Takeaways
- Justin Fields is listed as the Chiefs’ QB2 and will split preseason reps with Garrett Nussmeier and Chris Oladokun.
- Garrett Nussmeier is listed ahead of Chris Oladokun on Kansas City’s unofficial depth chart despite Oladokun’s prior NFL start and practice-squad tenure.
- The Rams opened with Stetson Bennett as Matthew Stafford’s backup and placed rookie Ty Simpson at No. 3 on their unofficial chart.
Why Nussmeier sits ahead on Kansas City’s unofficial chart
The depth-chart ordering in Kansas City places a recent rookie selection ahead of a veteran with more institutional familiarity, signaling a preference among evaluators to test upside in preseason reps.
Garrett Nussmeier’s college production and his Senior Bowl showing underpin that placement. He threw 42 touchdown passes across his final two seasons at LSU and completed 5-of-8 passes for 57 yards with a rushing touchdown at the Senior Bowl, where he was named MVP.
Nussmeier versus Oladokun how reps and resume compare
Nussmeier enters the roster as a late-round rookie whose high-volume college touchdown output and Senior Bowl MVP moment present an upside profile evaluators will examine in live reps.
Chris Oladokun’s value is grounded in four seasons on the Chiefs’ practice squad and a start on Christmas Day 2025 when he completed 13 of 22 passes for 66 yards and threw a first-half touchdown to Brashard Smith, followed by a close outing the next week.
The Rams get a two-part scouting look in the matchup: how a rookie processes NFL speed and structure, and how a backup with game experience executes under live conditions.
Comparative quarterback context for preseason reps
| Player | Experience | Verified recent production and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Garrett Nussmeier | Rookie, 2026 seventh-round pick | Threw 42 TDs in his final two seasons at LSU; Senior Bowl: 5-of-8 for 57 yards, rushing TD, named MVP |
| Chris Oladokun | Fifth-year pro, four seasons on Chiefs practice squad | Made a 2025 start: 13-of-22 for 66 yards, one TD to Brashard Smith; followed with another close outing the next week |
| Justin Fields | Listed as QB2 on Chiefs’ first unofficial depth chart | Slated to split preseason reps behind Patrick Mahomes per the initial depth chart |
| Stetson Bennett | Listed as Rams QB2 on first unofficial depth chart | Designated as Matthew Stafford’s backup on the Rams’ initial unofficial chart |
| Ty Simpson | Rookie developmental option | Listed as the Rams’ QB3 on the initial unofficial chart |
SEC recruiting and NFL pathway implications
Nussmeier’s trajectory from LSU to a late-round NFL selection who is receiving meaningful preseason reps underscores sustained scouting interest in SEC quarterbacks for pro upside and draft boards.
For college programs and recruiting observers, a former conference starter seeing NFL preseason action keeps evaluators focused on the SEC pipeline and how pro readiness factors into recruiting evaluations.
