Patrick Mahomes still wants to be under center when the Kansas City Chiefs open the 2026 season on Monday Night Football against the Denver Broncos, and he made that clear again this week.
“That’s my goal,” Mahomes said Wednesday during an interview on Yahoo Sports Daily. “I’ve said that since the beginning is being ready to go Week 1. I can’t predict the future and I know that it’s a long process. It’s not just my decision, but at the same time I’m going to give the doctors and the coaches every single opportunity I can to let me be out there Week 1.”
Mahomes tore his ACL and LCL in his left knee during the Chiefs’ Week 15 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers last December, an injury that ended his season and, according to NBC Sports, sent Kansas City spiraling to a 6-11 finish while Denver claimed the AFC West at 14-3 and advanced to the conference championship game. He underwent surgery the following day.
The Chiefs open the regular season Sept. 14 against the Broncos, a rival that swept the division race while Mahomes was sidelined. That matchup carries extra weight for the two-time MVP.
“I don’t want to miss that game because that’s the team that won the division while we were gone, and you want to be out there and ready to go with your teammates,” Mahomes said. “I’ll give every single thing I can to be out there Week 1, and hopefully the doctors and the coaches give me the green light and I’m able to go out there with my guys and compete against one of the best teams in the league.”
What the Signs Point To
The NFL’s decision to slot Kansas City into back-to-back prime-time openers reads as a vote of confidence in Mahomes’ timeline, though the league has not confirmed that as a factor. Mahomes took part in offseason workouts, throwing without restriction and working through 7-on-7 drills during minicamp. Head coach Andy Reid, though, kept him out of full-contact team drills — a caution that fits standard protocol for a franchise quarterback still building back toward live-speed cutting and contact roughly seven months removed from surgery.
“After the season ended, it was just about getting back out there and try and do whatever I can to be able to participate in OTAs, which I did, and be ready to go for training camp,” Mahomes said. “I know it’s a long process, but you have these end goals. I’m just trying to achieve those end goals by dominating every single day. We’ve had a great recovery program going these last few months and we’re in a good spot. Now it’s just about trying to continue to do that so that I’m ready to go when the season comes around.”
Chiefs general manager Brett Veach has described Mahomes as ahead of schedule in his rehab, a characterization that’s circulated through multiple outlets covering the recovery but hasn’t come with specific medical detail attached. As with any injury update, the team has not put a hard clearance date on the record — Mahomes’ own language (“that’s my goal,” “hopefully the doctors and coaches give me the green light”) keeps the framing on him working toward a target rather than a locked-in return.
The Safety Net: Justin Fields
Kansas City didn’t leave its Week 1 plan to hope alone. Back in March, the Chiefs traded a 2027 sixth-round pick to the New York Jets for quarterback Justin Fields, who’s expected to handle the bulk of offseason and training-camp reps behind center while Mahomes continues his rehab. Fields is 16-37 as a career starter across stops in Chicago, Pittsburgh and New York, but he gives Kansas City a mobile, experienced option if Mahomes needs more time.
The move addressed what had been a thin depth chart at backup quarterback after Gardner Minshew departed for Arizona. It also signals the Chiefs are building in real insurance rather than simply assuming their MVP will be full-go by September.
Mahomes By the Numbers
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Injury | Torn ACL and LCL, left knee |
| Date of injury | Week 15, 2025 season (vs. Chargers) |
| Surgery | December 2025, one day after injury |
| 2025 season stats (14 games) | 3,984 passing yards, 31 touchdowns |
| Target return | Week 1, Sept. 14 vs. Denver Broncos |
| Backup acquired | Justin Fields, via trade with Jets (March 2026) |
Training camp will be the real test. The Chiefs open camp at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, Missouri, with rookies reporting July 24 and veterans following on July 28. Full-speed running, cutting and live team drills — not the throwing and 7-on-7 work Mahomes has already cleared — will determine whether he’s trotting out for that Monday night opener or watching from the sideline as Fields runs the offense.
