Latest Chiefs roster move establishes new backup plan for Week 18

Chiefs HC Andy Reid confirmed on Monday that Oladokun would serve as the backup QB to Blaine Gabbert, who will get the start in place of Patrick Mahomes.

Is Oladokun the backup QB of the future in Kansas City?

While Oladokun will be serving as a backup on Sunday, he may be the future of the backup quarterback position in Kansas City. Gabbert is only under contract for a single season and will be 35 years old in 2024. 

“Listen (Chris Oladokun) works hard," Chiefs HC Andy Reid said on Wednesday. "He works hard every day at working to improve his game. He’s obviously in all of the meetings, and then I think the training camp time that he got to play was valuable for him. Then the scout team stuff, we try to – if a play is similar to what we run, we try to call it that way and run it that way, so the defense gets a real fast look at something that the other side knows.”

Reid didn't commit to getting Oladokun any snaps during Sunday's game. Ultimately, the team is trying to win the final game of the season. They're not actively using Week 18 as an evaluation tool for the future. That's more of a secondary part of the equation. 

However, if Gabbert were injured, Oladokun would be the next man up. If Gabbert is struggling in the game and the team needs a spark, they could turn to Oladokun, who says he's staying ready, no matter what. 

"Pat (Mahomes) has always told me, you're only one snap away," Oladokun said in the locker room. "That's something he told me when I first got here last year. So, it's something that I don't want to take for granted. Keep my preparation the same. Make sure I'm staying sharp physically and mentally, so if my number does get called on Sunday, I'm ready and we don't skip a beat."