Patrick Mahomes participates in Chiefs OTAs, details next step in knee recovery
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes wore a brace on his left leg during OTA practices.
- Mahomes completed individual and 7-on-7 drills but sat out full 11-on-11 team periods.
- Next step is proving he can run, cut and escape the pocket to progress rehab.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has been back on the field this week for phase three of the team’s offseason program.
Mahomes has participated in all three voluntary OTA practices, marking his first on-field action since mid-December, when he tore both the ACL and LCL in his left knee during the fourth quarter of a Week 15 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
The Chiefs’ first two practices of the week — Tuesday and Wednesday — were closed to the media. On Thursday, the team opened the doors to media members for the entire session.
Wearing a brace on his left leg, Mahomes took part in individual and 7-on-7 drills, but watched from the sideline during full-team 11-on-11 periods.
“It’s good to be back on the field and just be with the guys, I think more than anything,” he said after the Thursday session. “When you’re in some of those days, you’re rehabbing, you’re kind of here by yourself or with a couple of the other guys. And you kind of get that juice whenever everyone gets back in the building. So it was good to be out there and be able to take part in a little bit of the practice.”
Two days after surgery, the Chiefs revealed a recovery timeline in the “ballpark of nine months.” In mid-January, Mahomes said his long-term goal was to be ready for Week 1 of the 2026 season.
In the schedule release earlier this month, the NFL listed Week 1 as a Sept. 14 “Monday Night Football” matchup against the Denver Broncos at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
Mahomes’ objective hasn’t changed, now five-and-a-half months removed from the injury.
“That’s always going to be the goal,” he said. “I don’t want to miss games. As a competitor, as a football player, I want to be there. I know it’s still a long ways away. I can’t predict the future. And so all I can do is be great today and then continue to be great tomorrow. But I’ve gotten to where I’ve gotten to because of that mindset, and the goal at the very far end is to be ready and to be able to go out there and play with the guys Week 1 at Arrowhead. But I’ve got to take it day by day as far as getting there.”
In the periods Mahomes has been able to take the field, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said he’s liked what he’s seen. “He’s working hard,” Reid said. “This is good for him — I mean getting out there and throwing, it’s good rehab as he continues rehab, so he keeps the feel with the receivers (while) he’s doing partial practice. But it’s important. It’s important to keep his timing up and he’s busted his tail to put himself in this position. Most guys wouldn’t even be able to do this, but he’s put himself in that position.
“I know we’ve got good communication with the doctors, and they keep a close eye on it and what’s real and what’s not real, and then we listen to them.”
Mahomes couldn’t provide a specific expectation for his availability at the start of training camp because his rehab is built around checkpoints that run a week or two at a time.
Right now, he is capable of standing in the pocket and throwing. The next step over the next few weeks is showing he’s strong enough to add further movement — running, cutting and escaping the pocket — as the rehab continues.
“I think the biggest thing for me now is getting to the running and cutting,” Mahomes said. “I’ve started that stuff, but until I’m able to protect myself and go out there and be there, they’re going to keep me safe and not let me have the opportunity, as much as I want to be out there.”
While he couldn’t make any promises, Mahomes is optimistic that he may be able to participate in 11-on-11 team periods at the start of training camp in late July.
“I think if I can continue to do this stuff the right way, that’s the hope, for me at least,” he said. “And so all I can do is execute this next checkpoint of getting that cutting, being able to protect myself, prove to (assistant athletic trainer) Julie (Frymyer) and (vice president of sports and performance) Rick (Burkholder) and those guys and Dr. Cooper that I can protect myself, then they’ll let me go out there and be a part of the team drills, and then that’ll progress into games.”
Though every update since Mahomes suffered the injury has been positive, Reid is staying grounded.
“People say, ‘Is he ahead of schedule?’” Reid said. “Like, who made the schedule? Right?”
