Patrick Mahomes arrived at the Kansas City Chiefs training camp with more to work on than simply getting his knee ready. Kansas City is starting fresh after a difficult 2025 season that ended without a playoff trip for the first time in 10 years.

Mahomes spoke with reporters at the start of camp after receiving full clearance to practice. His last season ended in Week 15 due to a torn ACL. After months of rehab, Mahomes is now back on the field and looking to improve in his own game.

“I feel like I wasn't playing my best football at the end of last year before I got hurt," Mahomes told reporters on 25 July. "And so I got to find ways to get better kind of navigating the pocket, running the offense better, and getting the ball in my hands and letting other guys make plays.”

Mahomes has also pointed to decision-making as one area he wants to clean up. He said he sometimes looked for the bigger play instead of taking an open short throw.

“I think this injury helped me kind of focus on those little things, as I kind of get back to being who I am," Mahomes added in the press conference shared by the Chiefs' YouTube channel.

Now, the QB wants to get the ball out faster, move better inside the pocket, and give his teammates more chances to create yards after the catch.

Mahomes' numbers show why he sees room for improvement. He completed 62.7% of his passes for 3,587 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions in 14 starts.

Kansas City went 6-8 with him starting, while his 89.6 passer rating was lower than his marks in each of the previous two seasons.

With Mahomes working on those details, training camp is also giving him a chance to rebuild his rhythm with the teammate he has trusted for years.

Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce rebuild their familiar rhythm

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce are already showing signs of their familiar connection as Kansas City moves deeper into training camp.

During Wednesday’s practice, the longtime teammates linked up again while the Chiefs worked through early preparations for the 2026 season.

In a video shared on X by FOX4 Sports reporter Taylor Burr of the practice play, Mahomes took the snap and quickly threw to Kelce, who ran a sharp route and made the catch with a defender trailing behind him.

After securing the ball, Kelce turned upfield and picked up extra yards with ease. Once the play ended, teammates nearby were seen cheering for the pair.

That type of connection fits what Mahomes wants to improve this season. Instead of holding the ball while waiting for a bigger play, getting it to an experienced target such as Kelce can help Kansas City keep the offense moving.

Kelce himself is entering his 14th NFL season with 13,002 receiving yards. As Mahomes works to sharpen his own game, having one of his most trusted targets beside him could make that process easier during camp.

Could Mahomes and Kelce’s familiar connection help Kansas City’s offense find its old rhythm again? What do you think? Let us know in the comments!

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Written by

Shreya Mishra

Edited by

Arundhoti Palit