Patrick Mahomes Optimistic About Week 1 Return After Major Knee Injury, Sets Clear Goal for 2026 Season

The Kansas City Chiefs entered the 2025 season with championship expectations, but it ended in one of the most difficult years of the Patrick Mahomes era. Now, as the franchise looks ahead to 2026, the face of the organization has delivered his first public comments since suffering the most serious injury of his career—and the message was one of determination, realism, and guarded optimism.

Speaking to reporters Thursday, Mahomes revealed that doctors have informed him it is possible he could be ready for Week 1 of the 2026 season after tearing both his ACL and LCL in his left knee. While careful not to make promises, the three-time Super Bowl champion made it clear that returning without limitations is the standard he is aiming for.

“I want to be ready for Week 1,” Mahomes said. “The doctors said I could, but I can’t predict what happens throughout the process. That’s the goal—to play Week 1 and have no restrictions. You want to be out there healthy and give us the best chance to win.”

The Injury That Changed the Chiefs’ Season

Mahomes suffered the devastating injury late in a Dec. 14 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, a game that effectively ended Kansas City’s already fading playoff hopes. The Chiefs would go on to finish 6–11, closing the year on a six-game losing streak, including three contests played without their franchise quarterback.

For a team accustomed to deep postseason runs, the collapse was jarring. It marked one of the worst seasons in the Mahomes era and underscored just how central he is to everything Kansas City does offensively and culturally.

Despite the severity of the injury, Mahomes later learned that circumstances could have been far worse.

A “Clean” Injury, Relatively Speaking

Mahomes explained that while tearing two major ligaments is never ideal, doctors were encouraged by the absence of additional structural damage in his knee.

“What I got from my doctor is obviously I had the ACL and the LCL, but everything else was clean,” Mahomes said. “As bad as it was, it was as clean as it could be. There’s a lot of little things that could happen around that knee that I didn’t know. So now it’s just about rehabbing and getting the ACL and the LCL right.”

That distinction matters. Modern recovery timelines are heavily influenced by whether surrounding cartilage, meniscus, or other stabilizing structures are damaged. In Mahomes’ case, the clean nature of the injury gives medical staff confidence that a full return to form is realistic rather than speculative.

Surgery, Rehab, and an Aggressive Mindset

Mahomes underwent surgery in Dallas the day after the injury and began rehabilitation just four days later. Since then, he has remained primarily in Kansas City, working closely with the team’s physical therapist and medical staff rather than traveling elsewhere.

The quarterback openly acknowledged that his personality presents its own challenges during recovery.

“Knowing me, I’m going to push it to the exact limit every single day,” Mahomes said. “There’s places you can’t go yet. You want to, but you can’t go yet. And they’re doing it for a reason.”

He specifically credited team doctor Dan Cooper and physical therapist Julie Frymyer for helping keep that competitive instinct in check.

“It starts with Dr. Cooper and his team, and Julie and the training room,” Mahomes added, emphasizing the importance of trusting the process rather than rushing milestones.

A Realistic Timeline to Week 1

The 2026 NFL season is expected to begin on Thursday, Sept. 10, with most teams—including the Chiefs—playing their opening games on Sunday, Sept. 13. That timeline gives Mahomes roughly nine months between injury and his desired return date.

For ACL injuries alone, nine months is often considered the minimum window for a safe return. When combined with an LCL tear, the challenge increases, though recent advances in surgical techniques and rehab protocols have shortened recovery paths for elite athletes.

Mahomes acknowledged that while Week 1 is the target, he also hopes to participate in portions of the offseason program.

“I hope to do some things in OTAs and training camp and be able to do things there,” he said, signaling that incremental progress—rather than a sudden return—will define his rehab arc.

Context Matters: Mahomes’ 2025 Season

Before the injury, Mahomes was still producing at a high level despite Kansas City’s struggles. In 14 games, the 30-year-old threw for 3,587 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions, while also posting a career-high 422 rushing yards and five rushing scores.

The mobility element of his game was more prominent than ever, making the knee injury particularly concerning. Yet it is also that same athleticism, work ethic, and adaptability that give the Chiefs confidence he can return without losing what makes him special.

Notably, the ligament tear represents the first major injury of Mahomes’ NFL career, a testament to both durability and fortune over his first several seasons.

What This Means for the Chiefs Moving Forward

Kansas City’s offseason strategy will be shaped heavily by Mahomes’ recovery. Roster decisions, quarterback depth, and early-season expectations will all hinge on how quickly—and how fully—he returns.

Still, Mahomes’ comments offered something the Chiefs desperately needed after a lost season: clarity. There is no ambiguity about his goal, no hint of long-term uncertainty, and no suggestion that his competitive edge has dulled.

Instead, there is focus.

Cautious Optimism, Not Guarantees

Mahomes was careful not to promise anything he cannot control. Injuries heal on their own timelines, and setbacks are always possible. But the quarterback’s tone reflected confidence rooted in information, not bravado.

If the rehab continues without complications, a Week 1 return is not fantasy—it is a legitimate possibility.

And for the Kansas City Chiefs, that possibility alone changes everything heading into 2026.