Chiefs promote Mahomes to No. 2 QB after impressive debut

Patrick Mahomes' NFL career is one preseason game old, but he's already earned a promotion.

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid indicated Sunday that Mahomes will now be working with the second team as the backup quarterback, as Tyler Bray moves down to the No. 3 role.

"It's not because of Tyler's performance in the game," Reid said, according to Adam Teicher of ESPN. "I thought he actually did very well ... and Patrick did a nice job, too. It gives (Mahomes) an opportunity to step up and work with that second group and see what he can do there. It's not something (Tyler) didn't do. (Tyler) is playing well. But Patrick has also done a nice job. In order to step up with that group, Pat would have had to (make) progress."

Mahomes was impressive against the San Francisco 49ers on Friday, going 7-of-9 for 49 yards and a touchdown, but Reid added he was happy with more than just his young quarterback's numbers.

"It's being able to get in and function in the huddle, still seeing the defenses and the reads, knowing the calls that he needs to make to get (out) of trouble in both the run and pass games," Reid said.

Kansas City made Mahomes a first-round pick this spring to eventually take over for Alex Smith and it appears to be only a matter of time before that happens.