Brothers in arms: Kelce hypes up Mahomes’ remarkable recovery for Chiefs season opener

Patrick Mahomes spent the NFL offseason racing against a timeline that initially threatened to keep him out until well into October. Instead, he is expected to start in Week 1.

That recovery has left Travis Kelce particularly impressed after watching his closest teammate work back from the torn ACL and LCL Mahomes suffered against the Los Angeles Chargers in December.

“I’ve seen a guy do anything possible to be ready for Week 1,” Kelce said on New Heights. “What he’s done to get to this point is second to none.”

Mahomes underwent surgery almost immediately after the injury and quickly made the season opener against the Denver Broncos his target.

According to Kelce , the quarterback’s mentality became obvious almost as soon as the rehab process began.

“You saw that switch flip when he had the surgery, of how he was going to be determined to get healthy for the season,” Kelce said.

Mahomes never stopped looking like himself

The Chiefs kept Mahomes out of the preseason, but he worked with the first-team offense throughout training camp and did not spend time on the physically unable to perform list.

Andy Reid said Tuesday that Mahomes is expected to start unless something changes in the final days before the opener.

“Pretty good chance Patrick will go ahead and start, unless something were to come up here in the next couple days,” Reid said. “But, most likely, he’ll be the guy that’s out there.”

Reid also suggested that the knee hasn't noticeably changed the way Mahomes has practiced.

“Other than having a brace on his leg, everything looks normal,” Reid said. “He’s running around the same way he’s always done and throwing the ball like he’s always [done].”

Kelce expects that same mentality to carry into the game.

“In terms of his ability to move around, he’s a competitor, man,” Kelce said. “And he only knows one way to play the game, when that ball snaps I just expect to see Patty Mahomes playing football.”

Quarterback back at full strength

Mahomes ’ return is especially important after the Chiefs stumbled to a 6-11 record last season and missed the playoffs.

Kansas City made changes during the offseason, including adding running back Kenneth Walker III and using its first four draft selections on defense.

The core of the offense, though, still revolves around Mahomes and Kelce .

The pair are preparing for their 10th NFL season together, with Kelce returning on a new three-year, $54 million contract.

Kelce believes Mahomes ’ biggest strength isn't simply his physical recovery, but his ability to adjust when circumstances change.

“It’s just the competitive edge to him,” Kelce said. “He understands the game to a certain degree and if one thing doesn’t work, he has the ability to tweak how he’s playing to still get that success.”

Nine months after a major knee injury threatened to disrupt another season, Mahomes is back where Kansas City expected him to be.

Kelce sounds less surprised by the outcome than impressed by everything it took to get there.