ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes and the rest of the Kansas City Chiefs’ starters are expected to play most of the first half of their preseason game against Detroit on Saturday, although it’s possible Carson Wentz will also make some appearances for the first team.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid announced his plan for the second preseason game on Thursday, shortly after the defending Super Bowl champions finished the final practice of their training camp at Missouri Western State University.

Mahomes completed 3 of 4 passes for 27 yards in the Chiefs’ season opener against Jacksonville, setting up a field goal on their first possession. He typically plays until the second quarter of the second game of the season before sitting out the third preseason game, which in this case is Sept. 5 against Baltimore.

After the game against the Lions, the Chiefs will complete the remainder of camp at their training facility in Kansas City.

“I think you could see the development,” said Reid, one of the few remaining coaches in the NFL who prefers to take his team to training camps. “We’ve gained a lot in the last few days up here. The guys digested it and were able to spit it out – keep it. That was positive. And then maybe most importantly, getting into football shape, getting back up to speed, so to speak, for our first game.”

“We still have a few weeks to go before all that happens,” Reid added, “but we’re going to keep working on it. We’re not ready yet, but we’re going to keep working on it and getting sharp for the game. I appreciate the attitude of the guys.”

Reid said right tackle Jawaan Taylor would not play against the Lions after injuring his right shoulder during Thursday’s practice, meaning Lucas Niang will likely replace him. Niang was expected to compete with Kingsley Suamataeia for the starting left guard spot, but Suamataeia, a second-round pick from BYU, snagged the job early and never let go.

“(Taylor) won’t go this weekend,” Reid said, “but I think he’ll be fine.”

Reid also said he would not “force” veteran left guard Joe Thuney to take the field for a preseason game. Thuney was recently activated from the PUP list and began practicing after a chest injury that caused him to miss the Super Bowl.

Running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire missed his fourth consecutive practice Thursday due to illness, although Reid said he was feeling better. Safety Bryan Cook also was unable to participate in practice for personal reasons.

The biggest missing piece of the puzzle, of course, was wide receiver Marquise Brown, who suffered a posterior sternoclavicular joint dislocation in the Chiefs’ game in Jacksonville. Brown was fortunate that the shoulder injury that caused former Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill to miss four games in 2019 was similar and did not require surgery.

“We’re fortunate that it wasn’t as bad as it could have been,” Mahomes said Thursday. “He’s in good spirits, he’s doing well. We’re getting him back up and running and getting him moving. Obviously, we lost a little bit of that veteran receiver in that room. We’ve got other guys that can fill in a little bit, but having that much talent and understanding what I want – but he’s in that room. That’s important.”

Asked this week if Brown might be ready for Week 1, Reid was noncommittal. In the meantime, the Chiefs have turned to experienced Justin Watson, who knows every wide receiver position on offense.

“I have a lot of confidence in him,” Mahomes said. “A guy who knows everything, can play all three (receiver) positions, can catch and block. Those guys have to step up while (Brown) is out. We’re lucky it won’t be much longer.”

Like Reid, Mahomes left the three-plus weeks in St. Joseph feeling good about the work Kansas City had done and now began the hunt for his third consecutive Super Bowl title, a record.

“I thought it was a competitive camp. That was the most important thing,” he said. “Not only were there outstanding players every day, you never knew if the offense or the defense was going to win. That’s when it’s a great camp. There were days when the defense put pressure on us. There were days when we had the advantage. I think the competitive nature of the camp was the best part.”

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