The Kansas City Chiefs dropped their preseason opener to the Los Angeles Rams, 20-12, on Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium. While the final score favored Los Angeles, several young Chiefs drew attention for play that could affect roster decisions ahead of the regular season.
Defensive back Jaden Hicks led Kansas City with seven tackles and helped limit the Rams in the first half. The Chiefs held Los Angeles to a 1-for-5 mark on third down through the first two quarters and yielded just six points on five first-half possessions.
"[It was] good to get a preseason game under our belt," said coach Andy Reid. "There were some good things, and there are some things we got to clean up…We were able to get a good look at some of our young guys, and I thought there was some real production there, on both sides of the ball, from the young guys."
What stood out for Kansas City
Rookie running back Emmett Johnson carried the offense at times, finishing with 59 yards on 12 carries. Johnson’s physical running — including yards after contact — earned praise from Reid, though a holding penalty erased a 4-yard touchdown run midway through the second quarter and limited Kansas City to field goals instead of touchdowns.
- Score: Rams 20, Chiefs 12
- Top tackler: Jaden Hicks, 7 tackles
- Rushing: Emmett Johnson, 59 yards on 12 carries
- Quarterbacks used: Justin Fields, Garrett Nussmeier, Chris Oladokun
Three quarterbacks took snaps for the Chiefs. Justin Fields, Garrett Nussmeier and Chris Oladokun each led multiple drives. Nussmeier, Kansas City’s seventh-round pick in the 2026 draft, directed an 11-play, 51-yard drive that ended with a long field goal for Kansas City’s final points.
Early defensive work, but penalties stalled drives
Kansas City’s defense produced a strong first half, particularly on third downs and in the red zone, with Hicks breaking up a potential touchdown at the goal line late in the first quarter. That group limited the Rams to two field goals by halftime.
Offensively, the Chiefs moved the ball well at times but were penalized at key moments. A holding call that wiped out Johnson’s short touchdown exemplified how penalties turned promising possessions into field goals instead of touchdowns.
| Metric | Chiefs |
|---|---|
| Final score | 12 |
| Jaden Hicks tackles | 7 |
| Emmett Johnson rushing | 59 yards on 12 carries |
| Rams third-down (first half) | 1-for-5 |
Reid highlighted the value of seeing young players in game conditions even though the preseason scoreline was not ideal. He singled out Johnson’s aggressiveness and yards after contact as positives while noting there were areas to clean up.
As the Chiefs move through the preseason schedule, performances like Hicks’ and Johnson’s will factor into coaching evaluations and roster decisions. Special teams and penalties remain areas Kansas City must address before opening the regular season.
For fans, the preseason offers a first look at depth players and recent draft picks in game action; for the coaching staff, it provides tape and data to inform cuts and the final 53-man roster.
