The Kansas City Chiefs are back in the building for training camp, giving players and coaches their first opportunity to speak with the media and share their goals and expectations for the upcoming season.
Among them was QB1 Patrick Mahomes, who is nearing a full recovery from the torn ACL and LCL he suffered last December. Notably, the three-time Super Bowl champion admitted the mistake that led to the season-ending injury while revealing how he plans to prevent a similar situation in 2026.
Patrick Mahomes Admits Making 1 Major Mistake Before Season-Ending Injury
“I’m going to try and take care of myself better than last season. I think I was running too much…” Mahomes said, per “Locked On Chiefs” host Aaron Ladd on X.
“I think I ran a little bit too much last season,” Mahomes added, according to A to Z Sports’ Charles Goldman. “If all else fails, I’ll just hand it off to K9 and let him go to work.”
Despite playing in 14 of a possible 17 games, Mahomes posted career highs in rushing yards (422), yards per carry (6.6), rushing first downs (27), and rushing touchdowns (5). He also took the second-most sacks of his career in a single season (34). According to PFN’s QB Impact Metric, he posted an impact score of 79.0, ranking 11th in the league.
Mahomes’ rushing totals were likely a result of the team’s poor ground attack. Last year, the Chiefs’ leading rusher, Kareem Hunt, finished with just 611 rushing yards, averaging 3.7 yards per carry, while RB2 Isiah Pacheco recorded 462 yards on 3.9 yards per carry.
BUILD YOUR OWN TOP 100: PFN’s FREE NFL Top 100 Builder
As a result, the Chiefs’ front office made it a priority this offseason to sign reigning Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III to a three-year, $43.05 million contract.
The Chiefs have not had a 1,000-yard rusher during Mahomes’s eight seasons as the team’s starting quarterback. While they have managed just fine without a top-paid running back, as evidenced by three Super Bowl titles during that span, adding a player of Walker’s caliber could be exactly what Mahomes and Kansas City’s offense need as he continues to recover from a devastating knee injury.
On a more positive note, Reid announced that Mahomes has been fully cleared to participate in practice, according to ESPN’s Nate Taylor. Returning to the field at the start of training camp should give Mahomes valuable time to build chemistry with Walker while learning what he can and can’t do on his surgically repaired knee.
The Chiefs fell well short of expectations this past season, but with Mahomes nearing a full recovery, Reid calling the offense, and the addition of Walker, there is plenty of reason for optimism in Kansas City entering 2026.
