Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes continues to make progress in his recovery. His participation during Organized Team Activities (OTAs) has already caught the attention of NFL analysts.

On the Locked On Chiefs podcast, analysts Ryan Tracy and Chris Clark discussed how Mahomes' recovery looks during the offseason practices.

"Right now, he's participated in way more than we expected at this point," Tracy said. "He clearly is being a little bit cautious, but not worried about anything."

Tracy admitted he was surprised to see Mahomes participating in 11-on-11 work during OTAs.

Mahomes suffered ACL and LCL injuries in his left knee last season, but he has already returned to the field to practice with his teammates.  

"We even saw him participate in 11-on-11, which absolutely floored me," Tracy said. "I would not have guessed that he would be here after seven or eight months, let alone where he is right now,” Tracy added. 

The Chiefs star has repeatedly emphasized the importance of taking his recovery one step at a time. Mahomes recently explained in a press conference that wearing a knee brace has not been a major adjustment. 

"I wore the brace in college. It's on the same knee," Mahomes said in a press conference. "It's good to get these reps in now so I can speed that adjustment period along, " Mahomes added. 

For Tracy and Clark, that's not where the conversation ended. It wasn't just Mahomes' return itself. The speed of his recovery and his noticeably different physique quickly became a talking point.

Mahomes' Recovery Timeline and New Physique Sparks Further Optimism

Later in the discussion, Chris Clark believes Mahomes' commitment towards recovery has played a key role in his recovery process.

"You look at him, he's leaner than he was before," Clark said. "He's trying to take some of that weight down. That's always good for joint healing."

Clark noted that Mahomes is focused on improving flexibility, mobility, and long-term durability.

The analysts also highlighted the mental side of recovery. Mahomes understands each stage of the process and has gained confidence with every practice session.

"It does look like he's going to be ready to start training camp on time," Clark said. "That in itself is crazy."

Kansas City will look to take a cautious approach throughout the OTAs and minicamp, making sure not to put stress on Mahomes' knee while allowing him to gradually increase his workload.

The signs come as the Chiefs prepare for another Super Bowl push in 2026 after a poor season in 2025.

While Mahomes is yet to operate at full speed, his progress has provided optimism that he will be ready before their Week 1 game against divisional rivals the Denver Broncos.

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Written by

Evince Das

Edited by

Aadesh Dhote