Patrick Mahomes is definitely holding onto some optimism regarding his recovery.
After tearing his ACL in Week 15 last season in a game against the Chargers, the two-time NFL MVP mentioned he’s aiming to be ready for the Chiefs’ opening game of the season against the Broncos.
“That’s my goal,” Mahomes stated in a conversation with Yahoo Sports. “I’ve been saying from the start that I want to be ready for Week 1. Of course, I can’t predict the future, and I get that it’s a long process. This isn’t solely up to me, but I plan to give the doctors and coaches every opportunity to help me be ready.”
He added, “I really don’t want to miss that game. They won the division while we were out, and I’m eager to hit the field alongside my teammates.”
Mahomes also expressed his hope that the medical staff and coaches would eventually give him the thumbs-up to play in Week 1.
In case you forgot, Mahomes missed the last three games of 2025 due to his injury, leading to the Chiefs missing the playoffs for the first time in over a decade.
While he wasn’t able to engage in full team practices, he did manage to take part in offseason sessions.
He mentioned how much he missed being out there with his team and said it was crucial for him to shift his focus to 2026.
“After the season wrapped up, I did everything I could to get back on the field and be part of the OTAs, which I accomplished, and now I’m gearing up for training camp,” Mahomes remarked. “I understand it’s a long journey, but I have a clear end goal. My daily focus is to work towards that.”
“I’ve followed a solid recovery program in the last few months and I’m feeling fit. The key now is to keep that momentum going and ensure I’m ready when the season kicks off.”
Given that the Chiefs struggled without Mahomes in 2025, going 0-3, it’s clear his return at full strength is crucial.
In his eight seasons as a starter, Mahomes threw for 267 touchdowns and over 35,000 yards, shaping the Chiefs into a formidable team with three Super Bowl victories and five appearances in total.
