Overview
- On July 15 Patrick Mahomes said his goal is to start the Chiefs’ Week 1 game against the Denver Broncos but he acknowledged the final call belongs to team doctors and coaches.
- Mahomes tore the ACL and LCL in his left knee in December, had surgery the next day, and has been following a staged rehab program since then.
- He has taken part in offseason throwing and rehab work but has been held out of full-team, game-speed drills so far.
- Kansas City plans to use training-camp contact reps and possible preseason snaps to judge readiness, and coach Andy Reid has said Justin Fields is prepared to start if Mahomes is not cleared.
- Doctors typically expect a nine- to 12-month recovery for combined ACL and LCL repairs, so a Week 1 return is within the usual timeline but not guaranteed and will affect the Chiefs’ early-season competitiveness.