The Kansas City Chiefs kick off their 2025 campaign with a prime time showdown against the Los Angeles Chargers — but this one’s not taking place at Arrowhead.
The Chiefs will be the away team at Brazil’s Arena Corinthians in São Paulo as part of the NFL’s International Series on Friday night.
It’ll be a massive opening test for both AFC West teams division rivals, with playoff implications and a global audience watching as K.C. tries to continue its international dominance. The Chiefs are 3-0 in international games under Andy Reid, and they’ve won nine straight AFC West titles.
Just prior to the start of the matchup, the team announced its inactives. Chiefs fourth-round rookie wideout Jalen Royals will miss the game due to tendonitis in his knee, and TE Jared Wiley, RB Elijah Mitchell, DT Omarr Norman-Lott, OL Hunter Norzad and DE Malik Herring round out the team’s inactives.
Here are the Chiefs’ inactives for tonight’s game vs. Los Angeles:
WR Jalen Royals
TE Jared Wiley
RB Elijah Mitchell
DT Omarr Norman-Lott
OL Hunter Nourzad
DE Malik Herring— Matt McMullen (@KCChiefs_Matt) September 5, 2025
Chiefs Rookie OL Josh Simmons Set to Make NFL Debut vs. Chargers
GettyKansas City Chiefs OL Josh Simmons will make his NFL debut against the Chargers in Brazil.
When Kansas City’s offense takes the field, all eyes will be on rookie OL Josh Simmons, who is making his first NFL start. His assignment isn’t a small one, either, as he’ll be protecting Patrick Mahomes’ blind side with the likes of Khalil Mack lined up across from him.
The Chargers’ veteran is still one of the league’s most technically savvy pass rushers, and he’ll test every bit of the rookie’s footwork and timing. Kansas City knows Simmons won’t be able to win every rep alone, so offensive coordinator Matt Nagy and company will likely make every effort to help the rook with chip blocks and some misdirection at times.
Less than a year ago, Simmons was rehabbing a torn patellar tendon that ended his 2024 season at Ohio State and put his draft stock in jeopardy. He stayed vigilant and remained hyper-focused on his rehab. When he showed scouts he was ahead of schedule at the combine, the Chiefs elected to make him their first-round pick. Now, Simmons will be making his NFL debut against a future Hall of Famer in Mack. That’s quite the journey.
Patrick Mahomes Will Be Looking to Break Some NFL Records
Now entering Year 9, Mahomes has averaged more passing yards per game (288.9) and completions per game (24.8) than any other active players since taking the reins as the team’s starter in 2018. On Friday against Los Angeles, he’ll have the opportunity to add to his impressive résumé.
Per Pro Football Talk, “Mahomes has 291 touchdown passes in his NFL career (245 in the regular season and 46 in the postseason), and can break the records both for the most in his first nine NFL seasons and for the most before turning 30 years old.”
While he has played well against the Chargers, eight out of the last 10 games these two teams have played have been decided by one score or less, so playing mistake-free ball is going to be big for the Chiefs offense.
Chiefs Looking to Continue Dominance in AFC
The Chiefs swept the Chargers last year, so you can expect Jim Harbaugh’s group to come into this one a little extra salty.
“Listen, they’re well coached,” Reid said about the Chargers on September 2. “Jim does a great job with that crew; he’s got good coordinators and good coaches. Like any year, early in the season, you have to be ready and flexible to adjust with new things that might come up.”
It’ll be important for Kansas City to start fast on both sides of the ball.
“We have a lot of motivation going into this season,” Chiefs defensive end George Karlaftis said heading into the game. “Prove some people right (and) prove some people wrong. Fired up and super excited to get this thing started and prove what we got and prove what we are made of.”
