Patrick Mahomes provides a crucial update on his injury ahead of the Chiefs' season opener
Kansas City’s star quarterback remains confident he can return in time for Week 1 despite sitting out the preseason
P atrick Mahomes provides a crucial update on his injury ahead of the Chiefs ' season opener
Kansas City ’s star quarterback remains confident he can return in time for Week 1 despite sitting out the preseason
Patrick Mahomes has offered Kansas City Chiefs fans another encouraging update on his recovery, insisting that he remains on course to return for the regular-season opener after suffering a serious knee injury last season.
Mahomes watched from the sideline as the Chiefs faced the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in their second preseason game on Saturday, August 22.
Although the quarterback had hoped to get some game action, Kansas City again opted for caution as he continues working his way back from torn ligaments in his left knee.
During the broadcast with Trent Green , Mahomes explained that he wanted to play against Tampa Bay but that the decision was ultimately out of his hands.
More importantly, he indicated that he hopes to get onto the field in the Chiefs ' final preseason contest next week.
Mahomes also made his confidence in his Week 1 status clear, saying he is “extremely confident” that he can be ready for the regular-season opener and adding, “We’re trending that direction.”
That represents a significant checkpoint in what has been a lengthy rehabilitation.
Mahomes suffered tears to both his ACL and LCL in his left knee during Kansas City's December 2025 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers .
He underwent surgery the following day and entered the offseason facing a recovery timeline that made his availability for the beginning of the 2026 campaign a major question.
Mahomes is still targeting the Broncos game
The Chiefs have been careful not to rush their franchise quarterback. Mahomes was cleared for football activities before training camp and has since participated in practice, including work with the first-team offense. However, the coaching staff has avoided putting him into preseason games so far.
That approach continued against Tampa Bay, where Justin Fields received the start, followed by Garrett Nussmeier and Chris Oladokun . Mahomes therefore has not played in either of Kansas City's first two preseason contests.
Head coach Andy Reid has repeatedly emphasized that the priority is having Mahomes healthy when the games actually matter.
Recent reporting has indicated that there has been no significant setback in his recovery and that he remains on track for Week 1. ESPN's Adam Schefter and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport have both reported that Mahomes is expected to be ready for the opener.
Mahomes ' own comments have followed that same line. Earlier in the offseason, he said his goal was to be ready for Week 1 and acknowledged that the final decision would belong to the medical and coaching staffs.
That opener carries additional significance because Kansas City will face the Denver Broncos , the team that won the AFC West while the Chiefs missed the playoffs in 2025. Mahomes has already made clear that he wants to be on the field for that matchup.
The next preseason game could therefore become an important test. If Reid decides Mahomes is ready for limited action, even a brief appearance would give the Chiefs another opportunity to evaluate his movement, mobility and comfort before the regular season.
For now, though, Kansas City appears to be prioritizing the bigger picture. Mahomes does not need to prove anything in August, particularly after spending months recovering from a major knee injury.
The encouraging part is that the quarterback himself believes the rehabilitation is progressing exactly as hoped.
With Week 1 approaching, his latest update suggests the Chiefs' biggest question is no longer whether Mahomes can return at all, but precisely when Reid and the medical team will decide that he is ready to take the final step.
