The Kansas City Chiefs (0-2) and Chicago Bears (0-2) continue their preparation for the upcoming season with a preseason matchup Saturday afternoon. The third preseason game is typically when starters play the most, so this should be our longest look yet at the key players who will be carrying these respective teams in 2016.
Chiefs vs. Bears 2016 live stream: Time, TV schedule and how to watch NFL preseason online
The starters will get longer looks as the Chiefs visit the Bears for NFL preseason action on Saturday afternoon.
The Chiefs and Bears are still looking for their first preseason victories as they deal with injuries and other absences. Kansas City's passing game was exceptional against the Los Angeles Rams last week with 308 passing yards between Alex Smith, Nick Foles and Aaron Murray, but the defense looked like a work in progress and L.A. eventually came away with a 21-20 win.
The Chiefs will look to continue making progress from there, albeit with several notable players out of the lineup. Star running back Jamaal Charles and defensive end Tamba Hali aren't expected to play due to lingering injuries, and safety Eric Berry remains sidelined with an unsigned franchise tender. All those missing players should open up chances for other players to impress Kansas City's coaching staff.
"You’re going to give the ones the same amount [they had against the L.A. Rams] into possibly the third quarter," Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Tuesday, via Arrowhead Pride. "That’s kind of the way people do it around the league and that’s how we do it here. We’re going to keep knocking the rust off and getting ourselves game ready.
"At the same time, that second half is where we want to get some of the other guys in to try and evaluate them. Does that mean everyone is going to play? No. Not everyone will play, but we’ll take a look at the guys we need to take an extra look at if we feel they need extra work or we’re trying to evaluate a little bit better."
The Bears will also be looking to give their starters some extended action even as injuries ravage their roster. The team is coming off a 23-22 loss to the Patriots in Foxborough and still needs to figure out what it will look like entering Week 1 against the Texans.
Uncertainty surrounds the offense line, where Kyle Long is dealing with a labrum injury. Quarterback Jay Cutler recently said he's "not that concerned" about Long, who isn't expected to play this week, but labrum injuries can be significant.
Between Long and the season-ending injury to center Hroniss Grasu, the plan to keep Cutler protected in the pocket remains in flux. For now, Chicago will start Ted Larsen (who played in Grasu's place last week) at right guard and Cornelius Edison at center. Edison has never taken a snap in an NFL regular season game before, so this is a big chance for him to make an impression.
How to watch
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Location: Soldier Field, Chicago, Ill.
TV: Fox 32 (Chicago), KCTV 5 (Kansas City), NFL Network
Announcers: Carter Blackburn, Trent Green (Chiefs feed), Sam Rosen, Jim Miller, Lou Canellis (Bears feed)
Online: NFL Game Pass
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