Patrick Mahomes and Nick Bolton speak after the loss to Lions

Patrick Mahomes and Nick Bolton speak to media after loss to Lions

Craig McMullen

Patrick Mahomes and Nick Bolton speak after loss to Lions

The Detroit Lions came into GEHA Field at Arrowhead stadium Thursday night and shocked the reining Super Bowl LVII champion Chiefs 21-20. 

During the game multiple Chiefs receivers missed on passes from quarterback Patrick Mahomes. One of those receivers was Kadarius Toney who played in his first game after recovering from a surgery he had on a partially torn meniscus he suffered during training camp. 

After the game Mahomes said that he still has trust in Toney and that they will work on getting him back to where he was last season. 

“I have trust in KT,” Mahomes said. “He missed a lot of training camp. He wanted to play and fought through rehab hard. Stuff is always not going to go your way. We are going to continue to work him in and get him more reps and I am sure those drops will disappear.”

The Chiefs were also without tight end Travis Kelce after he hyperextended his knee during practice two days before the game.

“You are losing one of the best tight ends of all time but guys need to step up and have an impact on the game.” Mahomes said.

On the defense the Chiefs were without defensive end Chris Jones who continues his holdout as he waits for a new contract with the team. 

Linebacker Nick Bolton said that the defense gave it their all without Jones in the game. 

“Ultimately a guy like Chris is always going to be hard to replace,” Bolton said. “I feel like the guys come into the locker room every day and give it their hardest. They put their heart out there and that’s all you can ask for.”

Mahomes and Bolton said that the loss on opening night was a reality check for what to expect from teams the rest of the season. 

“The pregame festivities and guys coming in here having won the Super Bowl,” Bolton said. “The reality check is that was last year and this is this year. We got 17 opportunities to put our best foot forward and we lost one of those today.”

“It will be good for the young guys to know that we are not going to walk in and just win the game,” Mahomes said. “We have to play good football and we are going to get every teams best shot.”