When you’re a receiver for Patrick Mahomes, “never stop running”

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes spoke to the media Monday morning, as the team prepares to take on the Green Bay Packers in their final preseason game Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. Arrowhead Time.

Based upon tendencies of Andy Reid, Mahomes won’t play in that game, meaning his preseason is over.

With that being the case, I wanted to bring some attention to something special about the young quarterback—a signature I’ve found that may set him apart from his predecessor in Alex Smith.

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Old friend BJ Kissel of Chiefs dot com had the opportunity to interview wide receiver Tyreek Hill after The Throw during the Chiefs’ preseason Week 2 win over the Atlanta Falcons (better times).

One of Hill’s quotes during the interview popped:

“You always have to keep playing ball until the whistle blows,” Hill told Kissel. “The thing about Pat (Mahomes) is, he preaches every time he steps into the huddle— ‘Guys, keep running, keep playing,’ so as a receiver, we be like, ‘OK! We always have a chance to make a play for him. I’m excited. Sammy’s excited. Everybody’s excited. Sammy’s excited, so I mean, we can’t wait, man.”

Keep running. Keep playing.

On Wednesday after the game, tight end Travis Kelce was asked a similar question—his about whether he must constantly stay alert because of Mahomes’ ability to keep plays alive.

“Without a doubt,” Kelce said. “That kind of the transition of getting into Pat’s mind, and being able to be there—play specific where he needs me to be, or where he feels most comfortable to throw the ball. Yeah, on those deep passes man, just keep running.”

And there it was again. Keep running. Keep playing.

Mahomes not only has an innate ability to extend plays—he is also downright preaching that fact.

I asked Mahomes about that mentality on Monday.

“You have to be able to attack the whole entire field at all times,” Mahomes said. “I feel like times when you get behind the defenses they have kind of a clock in their head, and so they know the quarterback is supposed to be down and they sort of stop running, a little bit. Then I tell our receivers to keep running because I can always throw it past those guys and they can make plays.

“I always tell all those guys just to keep running at all times and they could always get a chance to catch the ball.”

There are no doubt going to be questions about the Chiefs defense this year. But this offense has the feel of one that will be fun to watch.