During Week 15 of the 2025-26 season, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffered torn ACL and LCL injuries that ended his season. Now, with just weeks remaining before the 2026-27 season begins, questions remain about whether the three-time Super Bowl champion will be ready to suit up in Week 1.
What Happened to Patrick Mahomes?
While Mahomes was out for the Chiefs’ preseason finale Aug. 28 against the Seattle Seahawks, that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s going to miss Week 1.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Mahomes is on track to play Week 1 against the Broncos on September 14, which gives the quarterback just over two weeks to get ready for the game. Schefter said that Mahomes has “cleared every hurdle” and that he “looks strong” in camp.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid also said that Mahomes is doing great but added that they will “just see” whether Mahomes will play in Week 1.
Reid said he’s taking it day by day and doesn’t want to make any predictions. If the doctors and medical personnel give Mahomes clearance to play, the team will address his status at that point. Reid also pointed out that the other quarterbacks, Justin Fields, Garrett Nussmeier, and Chris Oladokun, were “doing a nice job.”
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Before the Chiefs’ second preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Mahomes said he wanted to play, but the team held him out.
Overall, the Chiefs had a disastrous 2025-26 season, finishing 6-11 and third in the AFC West. The offense ranked 13th in PFN’s Offense Impact metric with a 76.7 grade, finishing ahead of the Washington Commanders, but trailing the Seattle Seahawks.
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As for Mahomes, he completed 62.7% of his passes for 3,587 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions in 14 games. He also had his best season as a runner, carrying the ball 64 times, the second-most in his career, for 422 yards and five touchdowns. Both marks were single-season highs for the two-time MVP.
If Mahomes is unable to play in Week 1 this season, the team will likely turn to Fields, who has completed 13 of 16 passes for 105 yards, no touchdowns, and no interceptions during the preseason.
Will Mahomes return as the Mahomes of old, or will he be “incredibly average,” as Colin Cowherd described him?
Expect Mahomes to be under center for the Chiefs in Week 1 as they look to bounce back from last year’s struggles.
