K.C. Chiefs preseason schedule 2021: Will face Cardinals in primetime

The K.C. Chiefs have learned that they will be facing the Arizona Cardinals in primetime during the preseason with the official release of the league’s full preseason schedule on Thursday.

The NFL announced the full slate of preseason games that feature the adjustment this year to only three preseason games (after the move to expand the regular season by a single game for the first time to 17 for the ’21 season).

For the Chiefs, they will kick off for the first time in the preseason against the San Francisco 49ers on August 14th. This first preseason contest will give Chiefs running back Jerick McKinnon a chance to show his former employer what they are missing as he will likely be playing several snaps to work through the contest in the backfield.

Both of the team’s first two games in the preseason will be road contests, with the second coming in primetime on ESPN against the Cardinals on August 20. This game will feature Rodney Hudson taking snaps in the desert for the first time, and familiar faces also include Xavier Williams at defensive tackle and Tyler Newsome at punter.

The team’s third and final preseason game will be the first official showcase for the Chiefs at Arrowhead this fall with the arrival of the visiting Minnesota Vikings. For a couple cornerbacks, it will be a chance to say hey to familiar faces after the team unofficially swapped Mike Hughes and Bashaud Breeland in recent roster moves (unrelated ones).

Here’s a full look at the Chiefs preseason schedule (all times C.T.):

• Game 1 – Aug. 14 (Sat.) – Chiefs @ 49ers, 7:30 p.m.
• Game 2 – Aug. 20 (Fri.) – Chiefs @ Cardinals, 7:00 p.m. (ESPN)
• Game 3 – Aug. 27 (Fri.) – Vikings @ Chiefs, 7:00 p.m.