Chiefs on roster bubble who must shine in 2026 NFL preseason

The Kansas City Chiefs’ 2026 NFL preseason is framed less around stars and more around roster decisions—especially after the team retooled through the offseason. With Patrick Mahomes’ progress in recovery offering stability, competition intensifies elsewhere, including the secondary and depth chart. Kristian Fulton, Garrett Nussmeier and Felix Anudike-Uzomah are highlighted as players with something to prove: none can feel secure as August practices are expected to turn uncertainty into clarity. Kansas City also added Justin Fields as a dynamic backup and reshaped the backfield with Kenneth Walker III, Emari Demercado and Emmett Johnson. Steve Spagnuolo’s defense must translate practice flashes into performance versus opponents.