Patrick Mahomes is straight-up eyeing Week 1 for his return from an ACL injury that cut his 2025 NFL season short. The Chiefs quarterback, who tore his ACL back in Week 15, is already ahead of schedule in his recovery and is pushing hard to be on the field for their season opener on "Monday Night Football" against the reigning AFC West champion Denver Broncos. You hear that, Denver? He wants that game.
Mahomes' Drive Is Unreal
Mahomes dropped some serious truth on Yahoo Sports Daily this week, telling Caroline Fenton he's giving himself every possible chance to start the season on time. "That's my goal," Mahomes said, "I’ve said that since the beginning is being ready to go Week 1." He knows it's not just his call, that it's a long process with doctors and coaches having the final say. But listen, the man is relentless. "I'm going to give the doctors and the coaches every single opportunity I can to let me be out there Week 1." That kind of determination after a major injury? It's what makes him who he is. He is not backing down from this challenge. He doesn't want to miss that Broncos game, and you know why. It’s the team that snatched the division title while the Chiefs were out of commission last year. "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." That’s pure fire. He wants to be out there with his guys, competing against one of the league's best teams right from the jump. You gotta respect that hunger.The Stakes Are High For KC
Last season was a rough one for Kansas City, no doubt about it. They stumbled to a 6-11 record and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2014. That's a huge blow for any team, especially one with Mahomes at the helm, even if he was sidelined. General manager Brett Veach hasn't been sitting still, though. They've made some moves, bringing in Kenneth Walker II at running back and shaking up the defense. And guess what? Veteran tight end Travis Kelce is back for another year. Mahomes, who hits 31 a few days after that Broncos game, spent last season watching from the sidelines, and that's not where he wants to be. He missed being out there with his teammates, and the minute the season wrapped, his focus snapped straight to 2026. Even with all the urgency, Mahomes gets that an ACL recovery needs patience. "It's a long process. I think that's what I've learned throughout this entire thing," he admitted. But he's maximizing every single day, slowly getting better. He's hyped to get back to training camp, to have his guys around, and to actually be on the field. That "Monday Night Football" showdown against the Broncos is going to be epic. Can he get the green light? He's definitely giving it everything to make it happen.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.