Patrick Mahomes’ return has become a big talking point for the Kansas City Chiefs ahead of the new season. With Week 1 getting closer, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid shared his thoughts on whether the star quarterback can be back in time. 

According to SleeperChiefs (@SleeperChiefsKC), Reid's latest remarks suggest that even amid the uncertainty, there is still plenty of faith within the organization that things could break in its favor.

“We haven’t made any assumptions that he’s absolutely going to be there game one, we brought in Justin [Fields] for that reason, we drafted a QB—I wouldn’t bet against him, if anybody could do it, it’s this kid," said the head coach.

The Chiefs quarterback suffered an ACL and LCL tear during Week 15 of last season in a game against the Los Angeles Chargers. It put his availability for the new season in doubt.

An ACL and LCL tear is a significant combined knee injury that often takes around 9 to 12 months for recovery. Mahomes suffered the injury in December 2025, meaning a Week 1 return on September 14, 2026 would come after only a nine-month recovery period.

Reid’s comments show that the Chiefs are confident about Mahomes’ recovery but are still being careful. Kansas City traded with the New York Jets to get Justin Fields, who has 50+ career NFL starts. He will serve as insurance in case Mahomes needs more time to recover. 

During the Chiefs' organized team activities on May 26, Mahomes was spotted making a throw in practice with a heavy brace around his left knee. So, Mahomes has been contributing around the team even as he works his way back from injury.

Reid's optimism about Mahomes' comeback appears to reflect the sentiment within the team, as teammates have also shown confidence in the quarterback's progress.

Trey Smith Weighed In on Mahomes' Expected Return

All-Pro offensive guard Trey Smith appreciated Mahomes' mindset during his recovery. He said that the quarterback always tries to improve and gives his best in every situation.

“Pat is the most competitive dude I’ve ever had the pleasure of being around,” Smith said. “I think he’s going to be the greatest QB to ever play the game.”

While reports have suggested that Mahomes is progressing ahead of schedule in his recovery, ESPN insider Adam Schefter cautioned against assuming an immediate return to form. He noted that recovering from an injury and being fully prepared for NFL game action are not necessarily the same thing.

But no matter where Mahomes stands in his recovery timeline, Smith opened up about protecting the quarterback better.

"As an offensive lineman, you always feel the responsibility to keep your quarterback calm, protected, and allowing him to operate,” Smith said. “You have the best quarterback in the game right now, so you just want to give him every opportunity to do what he does best.”

Mahomes’ recovery is being watched as Week 1 gets closer. The Chiefs are hopeful but still careful about his return. If he is ready on time, it could help the team a lot, but the question is, will he really be back for Week 1? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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Written by

Divyanshi Raj

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar