Chiefs-Seahawks: 5 things to watch in the preseason finale

The Kansas City Chiefs will take on the Seattle Seahawks Friday night at Arrowhead Stadium to end the preseason and send both teams into Week 1.

The game will kick off at 7:00 P.M. Arrowhead time and be broadcast on KSHB 41 for local viewers.

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The Chiefs lost their second preseason game 16-15 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, dropping the preseason record to 0-2 this year.

There will be plenty to observe, as this game is the last chance for many young players to show what they can do and for roster-bubble players to prove themselves one more time.

Here are five things to watch.

One of the biggest camp and preseason storylines for the Chiefs has been the emergence of the seventh-round rookie quarterback.

With solid performances in training camp and the first two weeks of the preseason, Kansas City will get an extended look at Nussmeier on Friday night, when the team announced him as a starter. With Chris Oladokun in concussion protocol, Nussmeier could play the entire game.

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Nussmeier has the potential to become the long-term backup quarterback option for the Chiefs, and a solid game on Friday night would help propel him further in his career.

2. Will Rice and Worthy suit up?

Neither of the Chiefs’ top two wide receivers has suited up at all during the preseason, and both have missed time in camp with injury.

Rashee Rice is coming off of a knee cleanup surgery, and while he has been taking snaps in camp, we have yet to see him at full speed in a game situation.

Xavier Worthy missed large portions of camp with a shoulder injury — which is notable because a shoulder injury limited what he was capable of doing on the field in 2025.

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On Wednesday, head coach Andy Reid could not confirm whether either would play in the preseason finale, so it will be worth monitoring if either makes their debut on Friday.

3. Can Felix Anudike-Uzomah continue to build momentum?

Headed into camp and the preseason, defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah was down and out. The injury had cost him all of 2025, and the team had declined his fifth-year option, setting him up for free agency after this coming season.

2026 is realistically his last chance to salvage a career, but the former first-round pick has come out, competed, and worked to earn his job in St. Joseph and so far in the team’s first two preseason games.

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Looking bigger and stronger, he has competed both off the edge and as an inside rusher so far through camp and the preseason.

A big sack last weekend highlighted a strong preseason, but he must keep building momentum this week and carry that early success into the regular season.

4. Right tackle and swing tackle battle

The Chiefs offensive tackle struggled a week ago in Tampa, and the entire unit needs a bounceback effort this week. With Trey Smith back in the lineup at right guard, this will allow Jaylon Moore to slide to right tackle, while rookie Kahlil Benson will be tested on the left edge because of the absence of starting left tackle Josh Simmons (Back).

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Both Benson and Moore struggled, giving up multiple pressures in preseason Week 2; Benson surrendered a strip sack.

In the live action, Benson looked to be playing a tick slower than those around him, and it cost him. Moore looked rusty and did not play the way he is capable of, but as of now he is the team’s best bet to start at right tackle once Simmons is back on the left side.

The “backup” tackles did not look much better, as Esa Pole struggled throughout the course of the game. Ethan Driskell played well and will likely earn another look and multiple snaps this week with the second team.

The depth issues across the offensive line triggered a trade on Wednesday, when the team traded for Josh Ezeudu from the New York Giants.

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Ezeudu will bring the versatility to play guard or tackle, and likely take a roster spot since he is not expected to compete on Friday.

This will add to the intrigue as the Chiefs wrap up the preseason.

5. Bubble watch

The fight for the final 53-man roster is on.

Here are a few bubble players on the edge of making the active roster or being released.

• Offensive tackle Ethan Driskell

• Wide receiver Nikko Remigio

• Running back Emari Demeracdo

• Defensive tackle Marcus Harris

• Linebacker Cole Christensen

Most of these players will be great candidates to make the practice squad or land elsewhere, but for some, it could be the end of the road.

Even with solid performances, some could still be on the outside looking in. When roster cuts occur league-wide, that opens the door for teams to snag cut candidates and add to the roster.

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This season, the Chiefs will have a prime spot in the waiver order to claim talent, so the front office will be looking both internally and externally to maximize the roster.