Mahomes told reporters this week he feels “amazing” and is excited about playing football again
Despite feeling “amazing” as he pushes to be ready by the start of the 2026 NFL season, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes says he’s afraid his ACL tear may impact him “the rest” of his career.
Mahomes, 30, missed the final weeks of the 2025-26 season after he tore both the ACL and LCL in his left knee during the closing moments of the Chiefs’ loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Dec. 14, 2025 — an injury that ended his season and, effectively, his team’s hopes at making the playoffs.
But shortly after the harrowing injury, the three-time Super Bowl MVP vowed to defy the odds and be ready by the start of this upcoming season.
Mahomes has been “ working his ass off ” to get back on the field, according to teammate and friend Travis Kelce , and was back on the field practicing with his teammates by late May — an astounding turnaround for an injury that can take upwards of nine months or longer to fully heal, according to the Cleveland Clinic .
Patrick Mahomes Credit: Jamie Squire/Getty
Team doctors fully cleared Mahomes to participate in the Chiefs’ summer camp and he told reporters on Friday, July 24 that he feels “amazing” being back on the field, according to ESPN . All indications appear to be that Mahomes is on track to take the field with his Chiefs teammates when the 2026 NFL season kicks off against the rival Denver Broncos on Sept. 14.
But while shedding light on his recovery timeline, Mahomes also hinted at what lasting impact his injury might have throughout the remainder of his career.
“The process isn’t over,” Mahomes told reporters, according to ESPN. “It’ll be something I’ll probably be dealing with the next few years of my career and throughout the rest of my career. But I feel comfortable now being able to go out there and run the offense the way the offense is supposed to be run.”
Mahomes, who has never missed a preseason throughout his nine-year NFL career, according to ESPN, said this year’s training camp with be the “hardest” he’s ever gone through.
“He’s been working so hard that you have a pretty good feel that he’s in a good place,” said longtime head coach Andy Reid , who has cautioned against Mahomes rushing back from the ACL injury. “We’ve got to see how things go and not make any predictions about [Mahomes playing in Week 1].”
As he has since he first broke his silence about the ACL injury, Mahomes assured reporters that he wants to be on the field with his Kansas City teammates at the start of the 2026 season.
“I feel stronger than I’ve ever felt, as far as strength and lifting [weights],” Mahomes said. “I feel amazing. I’m excited just to be able to play football. I’ve been seeing cinderblock walls rehabbing every single day in Kansas City. Now, to be on that practice field with my teammates, it’s going to be a lot of fun.”
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