The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes turned the offseason into an effective rehabilitation process, earning praise from Chiefs head coach Andy Reid for his commitment, which set the tone for the team's 2026 campaign.

Reid praised the quarterback's mindset and his consistent effort to return to the field after suffering a season-ending injury that sidelined him for three games in 2025.

“He [Mahomes] had a good teacher with Kelce [Chiefs tight end], so Kelce was the first one to do it," Reid said, per an X post of NFL on CBS on August 6. "...He saw Alex Smith [former QB], and then he jumps in, and now he’s taking it to another level with this leg. He spent his offseason here. He didn’t go anywhere. Seven hours a day he was here working with Julie [Frymyer] and beating it up. Then it pays off for him, and guys can see that.”

Mahomes suffered a torn ACL and LCL during the Week 15 game against the Los Angeles Chargers on December 14, which made him miss three games, while the Chiefs missed the playoffs for the first time since 2014.

Reid further mentioned that the franchise is monitoring Mahomes' recovery and working along with doctors and trainers, noting that Mahomes “is wired” to get back to his work as soon as he can.

“He’s a great example to all the other guys around him that, ‘I’m gonna do whatever I have to do to get myself on the field," Reid said, per an X post of NFL on CBS. "I’m gonna listen to the doctors, I’m gonna listen to the trainers. You take it day by day, and he’s attacked every day."

Mahomes completed 315 of 502 pass attempts (62.7%) for 3,587 yards and 22 touchdowns, with an 89.6 passer rating for 14 games played in the 2025 season.

Though Mahomes was fully cleared to participate in the training camp, his status for the 2026 season opener against the Denver Broncos on September 14 remains subject to medical evaluation at that time.

Mahomes tempers expectations: recovery isn't over

Mahomes' participation in the preseason games and return to the field depends on his recovery, as it's been nearly eight months since his ACL and LCL surgery.

"I'm a competitor, so [on] game day, I'm going to want to be out there," Mahomes said, per Nate Taylor of ESPN on July 25. "But I understand the process of getting myself ready to play in the regular season is more important. The coaches and doctors will make that decision for me, but I'll prepare myself like I'm going to play."

Mahomes has never missed an entire preseason during his nine-year career with the Chiefs, and he believes the recovery "process isn't over" yet.

Though Mahomes said that his knee may require additional care for the rest of his career, he expressed confidence in leading the Chiefs offense and the team back to Super Bowl contention.

Can the Chiefs return to championship form with a healthy Patrick Mahomes? Let us know your prediction for the 2026 season.

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Written by

Archana Ramakrishnan

Edited by

Zaid Quraishi