The 2026 NFL season might be months away, but the excitement for a new year of football is already starting to build. As the offseason continues to unfold, one of the biggest days on the calendar is the schedule release.
While still a few days away, fans are starting to get a taste of what to expect, as a few games have been announced to build anticipation. Among them was the season opener for Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, who will be going up against a divisional rival in the Denver Broncos.
Patrick Mahomes’ Availability Looms Over Chiefs Season Opener
A cornerstone piece to one of the greatest dynasties in recent memory, Mahomes faced some severe adversity in the 2025 season. As a result, the Chiefs finished with just six wins on the year, before the two-time MVP suffered a torn ACL.
Given the date of the injury, it put his status in jeopardy for the first week of the season. As a result, there was genuine speculation about what the first week’s matchup could be like for Kansas City, given the national interest in the franchise.
As part of the early teasers for schedule day, the Chiefs’ opener was showcased as they take on the team that broke their nine-season streak of winning the AFC West. Moreover, to add to the marquee treatment, it becomes the first Monday Night Football game of the year.
However, given the question marks around the three-time Super Bowl champion, the majority of the NFL saw the decision as a major risk. Chase Daniel believed the league knew about the risk, but also saw it as an optimistic sign.
“This tells me the NFL expects both Bo Nix & Patrick Mahomes to be FULLY healthy and ready to roll. Why else put this massive AFC West matchup in week 1??”
Interesting choice. The league seems confident Mahomes and Nix will be ready to go. https://t.co/Bd1QSNt0s1
— Mark Gunnels (@MarkAGunnels) May 12, 2026
Sports doctor Jesse Morse, too, gave Mahomes the thumbs-up, claiming, “Great news for Patrick Mahomes. I expect him to start Week 1.”
Jesse Palmer of Bleacher Report, though, wasn’t fully sure about the recovery timeline for the three-time Super Bowl MVP. However, he still had confidence. “Both QBs coming off season-ending injuries. Nix is slated to be full go by July after a 2nd procedure on his fractured ankle. Mahomes has been ahead of schedule with his ACL & LCL. He’s been incredible and is pushing to play Week 1. This will only drive him more.”
Adrian Franke of Kicker, too, believed the idea behind the matchup indicated the NFL’s mindset. “Liga scheint optimistisch zu sein dass Mahomes Woche 1 fit ist,” which translates to, “Liga seems optimistic that Mahomes will be fit for Week 1.”
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Veteran insider Albert Breer, too, was confident about Mahomes’ recovery. “The NFL putting the Broncos and Chiefs in the final slot of Week 1 — Monday, September 14 — gives Patrick Mahomes a target date now. And he’s worked his a*s off to make it back in time for the opener.”
As the news broke, ESPN “Get Up” was already on the air. As a result, the audience got a live reaction from Dallas Cowboys legend Troy Aikman, who broke down the blockbuster game set to kick off the MNF slate.
“Yeah, it’s a great opener,” he exclaimed. “As far as these quarterbacks coming off of serious injuries, I think everyone is wondering whether or not Patrick Mahomes, obviously, is going to be back for that one. A down year last year for that franchise, I expect them to come back and be the team that we’ve seen for much of the last decade.”
Denver Broncos vs. Kansas City Chiefs 👀@TroyAikman previews the Broncos-Chiefs which kicks off Monday Night Football for 2026 (September 14) ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/uzLkTlbqoA
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) May 12, 2026
However, for the three-time Super Bowl champion, it wasn’t just about one side of the coin. “With Denver, you could argue that they were a quarterback injury away from making it to the Super Bowl. It’s unfortunate for that organization, but what a great job Sean Payton has done.”
Going a step further, he believed the divisional rivalry could add to the game’s competitiveness and allure. ” It kinda helps set the tone in what is a very competitive division.”
It remains to be seen what kind of condition both quarterbacks will be in, but for the Chiefs, it will be an even bigger task, as they are coming in after a flurry of moves this offseason to overhaul the roster.
According to PFSN’s Defense Impact Metric, Denver had the league’s best defense last season, and facing them will be an uphill battle for the Chiefs.
