Patrick Mahomes has spent the off-season working back from one of the most significant injuries of his NFL career. The Chiefs quarterback underwent surgery in December to repair torn ACL and LCL ligaments in his left knee and entered training camp to be ready for the regular season.
Head coach Andy Reid confirmed in late July that Mahomes had been cleared to participate in all phases of camp, and he has since taken part in full-team drills. Kansas City is still managing his workload carefully, with Reid saying on August 7 that Mahomes is unlikely to play in the preseason as the team continues preparing him for Week 1.
The injury that ended Kansas City’s playoff streak
Mahomes tore the ACL and LCL in his left knee late in Kansas City’s Week 15 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on December 14, 2025. The 16-13 defeat eliminated the Chiefs from playoff contention for the first time since 2014.
Kansas City eventually finished 6-11, its first losing season since 2012. The result ended a 10-season playoff streak and marked a dramatic reversal for a franchise that had appeared in 7 consecutive AFC Championship Games before 2025.
Mahomes underwent surgery approximately 24 hours after the injury. The Chiefs said a typical recovery from the combined ligament damage was around 9 months, although individual timelines can vary. From the beginning, Mahomes made returning for Week 1 of the 2026 season his primary goal.
How the recovery timeline unfolded
Mahomes began rehabilitation almost immediately after undergoing surgery in December. By February, Reid said the quarterback was spending about 7 hours a day at the Chiefs’ facility working through his recovery with the team’s medical and training staff.
On March 25, Mahomes posted his first public video of himself dropping back and throwing a football since the operation. He continued to progress through Kansas City’s off-season program, participating in rehabilitation, strength work, and increasingly demanding on-field activities.
Mahomes consistently identified Week 1 as his goal, while Reid emphasized that the Chiefs would evaluate his progress day by day. That cautious approach continued until Mahomes received full clearance for training-camp practice in late July.
Andy Reid confirms full training-camp clearance
Reid confirmed on July 24 that Mahomes had been cleared to participate in every phase of Chiefs training camp. Mahomes said he had recently met with Dr. Dan Cooper, the orthopedic surgeon who performed his December operation, and had satisfied the benchmarks needed to return to full practice.
Mahomes took part in 11-on-11 work for the first time on July 29. Reid said he looked strong, noting that the quarterback had regained important strength in his legs and that his feet were moving well.
The clearance represented a major milestone roughly 7 months after the injury, but it was not the same as formal clearance to play in a regular-season game. Mahomes continues to target the September 14 opener against Denver, while Kansas City is taking his progress day by day.
Mahomes tests his mobility during training camp
Mahomes has not publicly committed to eliminating scrambling from his game as part of his knee recovery. Instead, the Chiefs have gradually increased the movement required of him as he works back toward regular-season football.
Kansas City’s official training-camp reports have shown Mahomes maneuvering in the pocket, rolling outside and even keeping the ball on designed plays. Reid has emphasized the importance of rebuilding strength and mobility in the quarterback’s surgically repaired leg.
The Chiefs are still managing Mahomes carefully. Reid said on August 7 that he is leaning against using him in the preseason, allowing Mahomes to continue preparing for the regular season without taking unnecessary exhibition-game contact.
Justin Fields gives the Chiefs experienced quarterback depth
Kansas City acquired Justin Fields from the New York Jets in March for a 2027 6th-round draft pick. The former first-round selection brings extensive starting experience from his time with the Bears, Steelers and Jets and gives Kansas City veteran depth while Mahomes completes his recovery.
Fields is not currently guaranteed to start if Mahomes is unavailable. The Chiefs are using the preseason to evaluate their backup quarterback options, with Fields competing alongside rookie Garrett Nussmeier and Chris Oladokun for reps behind Mahomes.
Reid’s plan to limit Mahomes’ preseason workload should give those quarterbacks additional opportunities before Kansas City finalizes its depth chart. The plan reflected lessons learned from other teams that brought quarterbacks back too soon.
Fun fact: The Detroit Tigers selected Mahomes in the 37th round of the 2014 MLB Draft after a high school baseball career that included a 16-strikeout no-hitter.
A record contract signals long-term faith
Kansas City made 2 separate major changes to Mahomes’ contract in 2026. In February, the Chiefs restructured his existing deal by converting salary and bonus money, creating approximately $43.56 million in salary-cap space for the 2026 season.
In June, Kansas City agreed to a separate reworked extension that added 2 years to Mahomes’ contract and tied him to the franchise through 2033. The total value of the deal is $504.75 million, with incentives and escalators that could push it to $522.25 million.
Beginning in 2027, the reworked agreement carries an average annual value of $64 million, which was an NFL record when the deal was announced. The extension underscores Kansas City’s long-term commitment to Mahomes as its franchise quarterback.
What Mahomes’ progress means for the Chiefs’ offense
Mahomes’ return to full-team practice is an important development for an offense trying to rebound from a difficult 2025 season. He finished last year with career lows in completion rate, passing yards, and touchdown passes. Then his knee injury ended his season.
His early work in camp has been encouraging. Mahomes has participated in 11-on-11 periods and made throws on the move. He continued testing his mobility while wearing a brace on his surgically repaired left knee.
Kansas City has not announced a plan to remove scrambling from its offense. Practice reports show Mahomes moving inside and outside the pocket. The Chiefs seek to measure how close he is to his pre-injury form before the regular season begins.
Setting expectations before the season opener
Mahomes remains Kansas City’s clear starting quarterback when healthy. But he has not yet been formally cleared for regular-season game action. His goal is to start the September 14 opener against the Denver Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium.
On August 7, Reid announced he is unlikely to play Mahomes in the preseason. He could sit him out for all three exhibition games. That would allow Justin Fields, Garrett Nussmeier, and Chris Oladokun to receive additional evaluation. Mahomes focuses on preparing for Week 1.
Kansas City will continue monitoring Mahomes’ recovery before making its final game-status decision. His full participation in training camp marks a significant positive sign. The team remains focused on a day-by-day approach.
Little-known fact: At Texas Tech, Mahomes threw for 734 yards and rushed for 85 against Oklahoma in 2016, giving him an FBS-record 819 yards of total offense in a single game.
TL;DR
- Mahomes tore his ACL and LCL in Week 15 of the 2025 season.
- Andy Reid confirmed he is fully cleared for training camp in 2026.
- Mahomes plans to run less and protect his body more this season.
- Kansas City traded for Justin Fields as insurance at quarterback.
- A restructured contract extends Mahomes with the Chiefs through 2033.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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