Most would agree that the biggest shock of the 2025 NFL season was how the Kansas City Chiefs fell off. After essentially living in the Conference Championship games and the Super Bowl, the team outright missed the playoffs, with superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffering a torn ACL.
As a result, there was a ton of doubt surrounding his injury timeline and when he would suit up again. But based on the word around the organization, it looks like he might be back way earlier than expected.
Patrick Mahomes’ Return Not Expected to Face Any Hiccups
Last season was a mixed bag for the two-time MVP. Playing in 14 games, he had 3,587 passing yards and 22 touchdowns, while giving up 11 interceptions, ranking at number 11 on PFSN’s QB Impact Rankings.
He also utilized his legs more than ever, adding a career-high 422 rushing yards and five touchdowns. But his season ended in tragedy, with a torn ACL that required surgery to repair both the ACL and LCL.
As a result, there was real speculation about who would be under center when the 2026 season got underway for the Chiefs. The league, however, seemed confident about his return to start the year, scheduling them for the first Monday Night Football game of the season. And it looks like Mahomes is going to come through on that belief.
Tyrann Mathieu, who spent more than a decade in the NFL and won Super Bowl 54 with the Chiefs, provided an update on Mahomes’ condition as Week 1 of the preseason sits right around the corner.
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During the latest episode of his “In The Bayou” podcast, Mathieu revealed his experience after hitting up training camp. “I wasn’t expecting him to be training camp ready. Definitely wasn’t expecting him to be ready for Week 1,” he remarked.
He also confessed that the three-time Super Bowl champion wasn’t covering up any deficiencies. “Even going up there this past week and hanging out with the coaches and trainers and stuff, he has no injury tag. He’s bouncing around, hopping around, talking trash. He’s the same old Patrick.”
It remains to be seen if that confidence in training camp translates to the regular season as well. But Mahomes himself has also made it clear that he wants to be on the field when the Chiefs open their season against the Denver Broncos.
After losing their vice grip on the division, missing the playoffs for the first time since he became a full-time starter, and having a generally disappointing season, the team will be hoping to make a major bounce-back this year.
But it is ultimately going to depend on the shape Mahomes is in and how he can handle the offense upon his return from the first major injury of his career.
