Kansas City Chiefs are navigating an unfamiliar offseason as the NFL playoffs unfold without them, a situation head coach Andy Reid and his roster are eager to leave behind.
At the center of the Chiefs’ reset is Patrick Mahomes, whose season-ending knee injury late in the year has cast a long shadow over Kansas City’s 2026 preparations.
Mahomes, the face of the franchise and one of the league’s most accomplished quarterbacks, suffered a torn ACL and LCL, bringing his season to an abrupt end.
The injury not only halted Kansas City’s campaign but also reshaped the team’s offseason priorities. As questions mounted about his recovery timeline, Mahomes finally addressed his health in his first media appearance since undergoing surgery.
Patrick Mahomes shares encouraging rehab update
Speaking openly about his rehabilitation process, Mahomes struck an optimistic tone while emphasizing patience. According to the two-time MVP, his recovery is progressing exactly as planned under the guidance of the Chiefs’ medical staff.
“First off, rehab’s going great so far,” Mahomes said. “Just hitting all the checkpoints that the doctor wants you to do and getting the strength and range of mobility back. That’s been going great — I’ve been doing all of it here in Kansas City so far. Julie (Frymyer) has been crushing it pushing me. The doctor kind of gives you goals to get to, and I just try to maximize those. They hold me back, because I always want to go a little bit further. It’s been going great.”
The quarterback’s comments offered reassurance to Chiefs fans concerned about how such a serious injury might affect his long-term performance.
Patrick Mahomes made it clear that while his competitive instincts push him to accelerate the process, the current focus remains on meeting every medical benchmark.
Week 1 return remains the ultimate goal
While Mahomes stopped short of making guarantees, he acknowledged that a return for the 2026-27 regular-season opener is firmly in his sights.
His medical team has indicated that the possibility exists, though the outcome will depend on how his body responds in the coming months.
“Obviously, long-term, I want to be ready for Week 1,” Patrick Mahomes said. “Doctor said that I could be, but I can’t predict what’s going to happen throughout the process. That’s my goal, and so I’ll try to prepare myself to be ready to play in Week 1 and have no restrictions. You want to be out there healthy and giving us the best chance to win. Hopefully, I’ll be able to do some stuff in OTAs and then get to training camp and hopefully be able to do a lot there. I’m excited for the process. It’s a long process, but I’m excited for it.”
Week 1 is scheduled for September 10, nearly nine months after the injury—a timeline that places Mahomes’ goal within realistic reach if his recovery continues smoothly.
Balancing ambition with patience
Despite his confidence, Mahomes acknowledged the importance of restraint, a challenge for a player known for relentless competitiveness. He emphasized the need to trust the recovery plan and take progress one day at a time.
“We have a great plan in place as far as where we want to get to, but we have to let it all play out and kind of take it a day at a time,” Mahomes said. “It’s been hard for me, but at the same time, it makes me [make] the best out of every single day.”
As the Chiefs look toward the 2026 season, Patrick Mahomes’ update provides cautious optimism. If his recovery stays on course, Kansas City could enter Week 1 with its franchise quarterback back under center—an outcome that would dramatically reshape expectations after a rare early offseason.