Patrick Mahomes’ recovery takes dramatic turn as Andy Reid breaks silence on shocking Week 1 return possibility

Patrick Mahomes is back on the field sooner than many expected, and suddenly the Kansas City Chiefs have a reason to believe their disappointing 2025 season may not define what comes next. After months of uncertainty surrounding the quarterback’s brutal knee injury, Andy Reid finally delivered the clearest update yet on Mahomes’ possible Week 1 return.

The Chiefs head coach stopped short of making guarantees, but his confidence was impossible to ignore. With Mahomes already throwing passes during offseason workouts and pushing through rehab at an aggressive pace, Kansas City appears cautiously optimistic about having its franchise star ready for the season opener against the Denver Broncos.

Andy Reid shares major Patrick Mahomes injury update

Mahomes suffered torn ACL and LCL injuries in his left knee during a December loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. The setback helped close out a disastrous 6-11 season for Kansas City, marking the franchise’s worst record in more than a decade.

The recovery timeline initially raised fears that Mahomes could miss a significant portion of the 2026 season. Standard rehab for a combined ACL and LCL injury can stretch close to a year. However, Mahomes has already returned to the practice field wearing a knee brace and participating in limited drills during OTAs.


During an interview with Stephen A. Smith, Reid addressed the growing speculation surrounding his quarterback’s Week 1 status.

“We haven’t made any assumptions that he’s going to absolutely be there game one,” Reid said. “We brought in Justin for that reason. We drafted a quarterback.”

Even while remaining cautious, Reid made it clear he believes Mahomes has a real chance to beat expectations.

“I wouldn’t bet against him,” he told Smith. “If anybody can do it, it’s this kid, and the way he goes about it and the way he heals.”

That confidence comes from watching Mahomes spend long days inside the team facility throughout rehab. According to reports, the former MVP has been working relentlessly with trainers while slowly increasing his workload during organized team activities.

Patrick Mahomes recovery pushes Justin Fields into spotlight

Kansas City’s front office prepared for uncertainty by trading for Justin Fields earlier this offseason. The former New York Jets quarterback has handled first-team reps while Mahomes avoids full-contact situations and 11-on-11 drills.

Reid explained why the Chiefs remain careful with Mahomes despite the encouraging progress.

“He can travel under center, but I just don’t want him in any area where there might be a jet sweep coming or something of that sort,” he said. “He has busted his tail to put himself in this position. Most guys wouldn’t even be able to do this.”

Fields, meanwhile, is still adjusting to Kansas City’s offense and developing chemistry with new receivers. Reid acknowledged the transition has not been perfect, but the Chiefs view him as more than just temporary insurance.

Everything now depends on how Mahomes’ knee responds over the next several weeks. If he continues hitting every rehab checkpoint, Kansas City may open the 2026 season with its superstar quarterback under center after all.