Patrick Mahomes’ brief return
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Patrick Mahomes wasted little time making an impact, then watched a short summer night end a lot sooner than expected. The Kansas City quarterback, in his ninth season and a three-time Super Bowl champ, was on the Chiefs’ sideline before Saturday’s preseason game with energy, then was on the field for only one series.
After the Cardinals fumbled the opening kickoff, Kansas City took advantage of the short field. Mahomes connected with Jason Brownlee for a 1-yard touchdown to cap a drive that produced a 7-0 lead less than a minute in. It turned out to be the lone completion and lone pass attempt for Mahomes, who said coach Andy Reid had planned for him to play just one series. “One series turned into one throw,” he quipped afterward.
Gardner Minshew took over on the next KC possession and scampered in for a 2-yard touchdown in the second quarter, while Harrison Butker added a 58-yard field goal. Mahomes finished 1-for-1 for 1 yard and a TD in his brief exposure. The Chiefs, who were chasing a first win since losing the Super Bowl to the Eagles, saw their starters leave with mixed results and too many penalties that undermined the rest of the night.
The Cardinals, meanwhile, showed resilience. Kyler Murray played his first preseason game since 2021 and performed well overall, finishing 7 of 8 for 96 yards with an interception on the opening drive. Murray’s second series included a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty on tight end Tip Reiman, and Arizona settled for a 33-yard field goal by Chad Ryland. Murray came back to lead another drive and standouts stepped up elsewhere.
Arizona used a 43-yard touchdown pass from Emari Demercado to trim the deficit to 14-10, then Xavier Weaver caught a 1-yard TD from Jacoby Brissett to take a 17-14 halftime edge. Brissett finished 5 of 8 for 81 yards, and the Cardinals outgained the Chiefs 355 yards to 249.
Arizona coach Jonathan Gannon, like Murray, took the upside from the night. “The team — not just Kyler — understood why we’re doing what we’re doing tonight,” Gannon said. “They were excited to get under the lights. That’s the AFC champs coming in here. Andy Reid — Hall of Fame coach. They were excited to play a really good team, get lathered up and bang a little on someone other than themselves.”
Notes and next steps
– Injuries: Chiefs cornerback Jaylen Watson exited in the first half (concussion protocol). Safety Deon Bush left with an Achilles injury. Cardinals offensive lineman Christian Jones was sidelined by a knee issue.
– Cardinals’ offseason up front: Arizona boosted its defensive front this offseason with additions like Josh Sweat, Dalvin Tomlinson and Calais Campbell.
– Next games: Chiefs visit the Seahawks on Friday, Aug. 15; Cardinals host the Broncos on Saturday, Aug. 16.
What to watch next: Mahomes’ availability and precision in a longer stint will be the headline as Kansas City builds toward the regular season, while Arizona’s offense and defense continue integrating new pieces and learning under pressure. Murray’s return to game speed looked encouraging, and the Cardinals survived early miscue moments to claim a win in their favor.
Summary: A game of small sample sizes that offered optimism on both sides — Mahomes’ quick-trigger efficiency, Murray’s return to preseason rhythm, and a Cardinals team that can take away positives from its late first-half surge and Brissett’s veteran leadership.
Positive takeaway: The night underscored that even limited appearances can spark teamwork and momentum, while the Cardinals showed they can rally behind their new-look defense and growing playmakers.