Patrick Mahomes is telling anyone who will listen that his "goal" is to be ready for Week 1, even after tearing his ACL last season. That's a huge statement from the Chiefs star, who's been pushing hard in rehab to get back on the field. He went on Yahoo Sports Daily to share his determination, making it clear he's doing "everything I can" to be there for the opening game against the Denver Broncos.
Mahomes Is Pushing, But Is It Enough?
Mahomes injured his knee in a Week 15 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers last season, undergoing surgery the very next day. The initial recovery timeline from Chiefs vice president of sports medicine and performance, Rick Burholder, was anywhere from seven to 11 months. That's a wide window, right? But more recently, the vibe out of Kansas City has been way more optimistic. General manager Brett Veach told reporters in early May that the two-time NFL MVP is actually "way ahead of schedule," which is exactly what you want to hear if you are a Chiefs fan. Mahomes isn't holding back on why he wants that Week 1 start so badly, either. He said, "I don't want to miss that game [against the Broncos] because that's the team that won the division while we were gone and you want to be out there and ready to go with your teammates." He's giving everything to get the "green light" from doctors and coaches to be out there with his guys, competing against one of the best teams in the league. You gotta respect that fire, even if you are not a Chiefs fan.The Stakes Are Sky-High for Kansas City
Let's be real: The Chiefs need Mahomes back, and they need him now. Last season was the worst in the Mahomes era, with the team finishing 6-11 and missing the playoffs for the first time since 2014. That's a gut punch for any franchise, especially one that's used to Super Bowl glory. The NFL even scheduled that Chiefs-Broncos matchup for Monday Night Football in Week 1, which definitely feels like the league is expecting him to be suited up. If Mahomes does miss time at the start of the regular season, Justin Fields is set to step in and run the offense. But we all know the Chiefs' ceiling in 2026 depends heavily on how many games their three-time Super Bowl MVP is able to play. Remember, the only other major injury Mahomes had was a dislocated knee in Week 7 of the 2019 season. He only missed two games then and came back to help them win the Super Bowl. Will this recovery be as quick and impactful? We'll start to get a better idea of where Mahomes' rehab and recovery stands on July 28, when all Chiefs players are scheduled to report to training camp. That's when things get real.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.