Pro Football Rumors
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL and LCL last year, setting up a lengthy recovery period and raising questions about his availability to start the 2026 regular season.
Mahomes went down on December 14, exactly nine months before Kansas City’s Week 1 opener against the Broncos. Nine months has become the standard return timeline for major knee injuries, but that does not account for set-backs or ramp-up times.
The two-time MVP has maintained Week 1 as his return target, bolstered by partial participation in OTAs and an expectation of being cleared for full-team work in training camp.
The Chiefs are optimistic about their star’s outlook after he has relentlessly attacked his rehab for the last several months, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
“It certainly does seem that Mahomes is on track to be on the field Week 1,” he added.
Few players hold their team’s destiny so fully in their hands as Mahomes does in Kansas City. The Chiefs went 6-8 in his starts last year and, despite their coaching and roster talent, are seen as a borderline playoff team without him. But if he is under center come Week 1, they will likely return to their perennial status as Super Bowl contenders, if not outright favorites in the AFC.
