The Kansas City Chiefs are entering a crucial phase of their offseason with cautious optimism surrounding their superstar field general. Patrick Mahomes, who suffered a major knee injury late last season, is steadily progressing through his recovery.
With organized team activities (OTAs) approaching, questions were raised about how much he will be able to participate. Head coach Andy Reid recently addressed that uncertainty, offering insight into the team’s careful approach. While the signs are encouraging, Kansas City is clearly prioritizing long-term health over rushing their star back into full action.
Andy Reid Explains Cautious Approach to Patrick Mahomes’ OTA Participation
Speaking during rookie minicamp, Reid outlined where Mahomes stands in his recovery and how the team plans to handle the next phase. With OTAs set to begin later this month, the Chiefs are optimistic but measured in their expectations.
“He is in a good position to be able to do some things,” said Reid, via Matt Derrick of Chiefs Digest. “There’s some rules and regulations that go with that, so we got to just make sure that we’re on top of that part.”
Andy Reid on Patrick Mahomes working in OTAs.
“If he can do some things, you know, phase two, remember is there’s no contact, there’s no offense versus defense. So it’s phase three that you get into that once you start the clock, then the clock’s got to be rolling.” pic.twitter.com/7o0SdxpiKR
— Matt Derrick (@mattderrick) May 2, 2026
Phase 2 of the offseason allows for individual drills but no contact or competitive team scenarios, limiting how much a recovering quarterback can fully engage, and Reid is in no mood to follow the guidelines.
“If he can do some things, Phase 2, remember, there’s no contact and there’s no offense versus defense,” the coach added. “It’s Phase 3 that you get into that. Once you start the clock, then the clock’s gotta be rolling. So you just have to evaluate what you wanna do there. He’s in a position where he can do everything.”
This statement underscores the strategic decision facing the Chiefs. Entering Phase 3 would mean exposing Mahomes to more competitive environments, so the staff must carefully decide when to “start the clock” on that progression.
Before his injury, Mahomes once again played a central role in Kansas City’s offense. According to PFSN QB Impact Metrics, he recorded a 77.2 QB Impact Score, earning a C+ grade while ranking 17th among quarterbacks for the 2025 season.
Across 14 games, he completed 315 of 502 passes, finishing with a 62.7% completion rate that ranked near the lower third of starters. Despite that, Mahomes still produced strong counting numbers, throwing for 3,587 yards and 22 touchdowns, both of which placed him comfortably among the league’s more productive quarterbacks. He also limited mistakes reasonably well, tossing 11 interceptions over the course of the season.
BE AN NFL GM: PFSN’s Ultimate GM Simulator
These are figures that are great but worrisome for the Chiefs as they know how vital Mahomes is to Kansas City’s success. So it’ll be important for them to get their starter back in good shape.
The Chiefs have scheduled their first OTA sessions for May 26-28, marking an important checkpoint in Mahomes’ recovery timeline.
Kansas City’s priority will be balancing readiness with caution. The team has enough depth at QB, including offseason addition Justin Fields, to avoid rushing Mahomes back prematurely, and their drafted QB, LSU star Garrett Nussmeier.
However, if his recovery continues on its current trajectory, he should be well-positioned for a full return by the start of the regular season.
