While the Kansas City Chiefs expect quarterback Patrick Mahomes to be back for Week 1, getting back on the field may not be enough to keep the team on top of the AFC.

According to Chris Pownall of Last Word on Sports in his July 2026 analysis, the bigger concern is not whether Mahomes returns, but whether he can play at the same elite level after a torn ACL and LCL ended his 2025 season. If his mobility declines, it could reshape the team's playoff chances.

"A red-zone scramble ends in a sack instead of a touchdown, and a late comeback stalls because the quarterback cannot buy one more second,” Pownall wrote on Sunday. “Together, they are often the difference between earning the AFC's top seed and playing on Wild Card weekend."

The Chiefs have been winning the AFC West division since Mahomes started as a full-time starter. Mahomes has made a career out of playing through injuries without letting his performance drop.

He led the Chiefs to win a Super Bowl in 2019 after dealing with multiple injuries and played through another serious ankle injury during the 2022 playoffs on his way to winning NFL MVP and Super Bowl MVP.

He stayed active in the field after another ankle injury in 2024, but 2025 was different. A torn ACL and LCL ended his season after he recorded 3,587 yards and 22 touchdowns in 14 games.

"That is what makes Mahomes' injury recovery so important to the state of the Chiefs dynasty," Pownall of Last Word on Sports wrote.

 Mahomes has separated himself from other quarterbacks by turning broken plays into scoring performances. But even a slight loss of speed or movement could change the results of close games over the course of a season.

Rather than relying on Mahomes to do everything himself, the Chiefs may be ready to lean on a different offensive formula.

Andy Reid's offensive shift could help protect Mahomes

Kansas City is preparing for this season by adjusting its offense instead of expecting Mahomes to carry every game on his own.

The goal is to reduce pressure on the quarterback while keeping the offense productive. Head coach Andy Reid is leaning more on the running game, with free-agent addition Kenneth Walker III expected to play a bigger role.

"Every clip I've seen of the Chiefs so far, he's been under center, handing the ball off, and I'm like, yes. If they start doing this, everybody better watch out," retired quarterback Derek Carr said on Sportsradio 810 WHB via X.

Carr added that protecting Mahomes should be the team's top priority because giving him more time in the pocket makes the offense far more dangerous.

He believes a stronger run game and more play-action could help the quarterback rely less on improvisation while remaining highly effective.

That change could benefit the entire roster by creating balance on offense and giving Mahomes a better chance to return to his best form throughout the season.

If Mahomes returns healthy but plays differently, will the Chiefs find a new way to the top of the AFC? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

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Written by

Shreya Mishra

Edited by

Shubhi Rathore