The two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs are currently on the hunt to complete a historic three-peat, but head coach Andy Reid already knows that one important piece of the team is unlikely to be back next year. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Reid admitted that backup quarterback Carson Wentz is unlikely to stick with the team after this season.

Wentz, who signed with the Chiefs this past offseason, has primarily served as a backup to superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who has taken the Chiefs to four Super Bowls in the last five seasons and has appeared in the last six AFC Championship Games – one for every year he has been a starter. Wentz only had one occasion to enter a game so far this season, though he may get a longer opportunity in the team’s final regular season game.

The Chiefs will play this regular season finale on the road against Denver with the result largely meaningless for their Super Bowl aspirations. The team locked up the No. 1 seed in the AFC with a game to spare, along with their ninth consecutive AFC West title weeks before that, giving them 17 total AFC West titles in their history, two more than any other team in the division.

Wentz enjoyed some success as a starter with the Philadelphia Eagles before stints with the Indianapolis Colts and the Washington Commanders. For each of the last two seasons he has served as a backup for entrenched starters, first in Los Angeles backing up Matthew Stafford on the Rams, and now serving as Mahomes’ understudy on the Chiefs.

“I’m one of his biggest fans,” Reid said of Wentz in Monday’s press conference. “I liked what he did before he was banged up there in Philly. And I liked what I saw last year from him for sure with his start with the Rams. And I like what I’ve seen here. I’m glad I have had the opportunity to see him here. I’d selfishly like to keep him, but I don’t think that’s going to be possible.”

Wentz signed a one-year contract with the Chiefs before the season for just over $3 million. With many teams around the league looking to make a change at quarterback and with next to zero chance he will ever get a consistent run of games in Kansas City, it’s likely that Wentz will test the free agency market and see if he can catch on somewhere as a starter.

KANSAS CITY, MO – DECEMBER 08: Isiah Pacheco #10 of the Kansas City Chiefs warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on December 8, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) ( 

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“He should be starting in the league somewhere,” Reid said. “That’s what he should be doing. His ability and the way he goes about his business, he is so structured and disciplined. His study habits and work, all those things are just top notch.”

In other Chiefs news, Reid provided updates on the status of two of the team’s primary injury worries: running back Isiah Pacheco and left tackle DJ Humphries. Pacheco left last week’s game with a rib injury while Humphries suffered a strained hamstring in his first game after signing for the team in order to solve its revolving door at the offensive line position.

On Pacheco, Reid said: “He’ll be available playoff-wise, but he is tender… I’ll probably hold him back this week in practice, so he can be fresh and ready to go.” On Humphries, the outlook was similarly positive yet cautious: ““He’s doing good. I can’t make any promises. I want to get him out to practice and kinds see where we are at. He’s doing good on the rehab part. That’s different than being on the field. So I’d like to see how he does there.”