Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL and LCL to cap off a forgettable 2025, but the three-time Super Bowl champion, two-time NFL MVP, and six-time Pro Bowler is working his way back onto the field. Originally suffering the injury in December against the Los Angeles Chargers, the quarterback is not 100% but is expected to be ready for the start of the regular season. The first step to playing in Week 1 is getting back on the field, and Sports Illustrated‘s Albert Breer reports the quarterback should be cleared for 11-on-11 drills by the end of camp.
This is obviously fantastic news for the Chiefs, as it means Patrick Mahomes is on schedule in his recovery from the season-ending injury. It goes without saying that Patrick Mahomes is one of the best quarterbacks of all time, and the Chiefs wouldn’t be nearly as competitive without him in the lineup. As it is, the Chiefs will already face a difficult path in their quest to make yet another deep postseason run.
Patrick Mahomes Likely To Be Cleared For Training Camp
After making it to at least the AFC Championship Game in each of his first seven seasons as a starter, the Chiefs couldn’t continue their success in 2025. Even with Patrick Mahomes under center, the team went 6-8 during his 14 starts and was eliminated from the playoffs the same day the quarterback tore his ACL. Kansas City struggled without its star passer, as the team finished the season with an underwhelming 6-11 record after backup Gardner Minshew suffered a season-ending injury of his own.
Since then, the Chiefs have lost several key players to the open market. While they spent big to sign Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker, they lost key defenders in Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson, and Leo Chenal, just to name a few. While they fortified the defense with LSU’s Mansoor Delane and Clemson’s Peter Woods, these two probably won’t completely mitigate the loss of the proven veterans.
The offensive side of the ball, meanwhile, has its own questions. Travis Kelce will return for another season, and while he is still an above-average tight end, he’s no longer the unstoppable force he was at the beginning of his career. Rashee Rice will, in theory, be the top option for the upcoming season, but his poor off-field choices make him unreliable over the course of the season. Former first-round pick Xavier Worthy has yet to justify his draft status, although he has had some nice moments throughout his short career. It’s too early to throw in the towel on him, but he’s no guarantee to be a consistent part of the passing attack.
The Plan B
A great quarterback like Patrick Mahomes can overcome a flawed roster, but he may not be at full strength to start the season. While it appears as though he’s on pace to play in Week 1, Kansas City did its best to solidify the QB2 position. After letting Gardner Minshew walk in free agency, the team sent a 2027 sixth-round pick to the New York Jets for longtime journeyman Justin Fields.
Fields, a former first-round pick himself, is an excellent athlete with a rocket arm and all the tools needed to be a franchise quarterback. Unfortunately, he has yet to put it all together and reach his ceiling. While he had his moments with the Chicago Bears, the Ohio State product simply hasn’t done enough as a passer to earn a full-time job in the league. Last year with the Jets, the quarterback completed 62.7% of his passes for 1,259 yards, seven touchdowns, and one interception in nine starts. While he might find more success with a better coaching staff, he won’t be able to carry this offense like Patrick Mahomes can.
