Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes shared an encouraging update on his recovery from a torn ACL, saying his rehabilitation is progressing well and that his goal is to be ready for the start of the 2026 NFL season.
Speaking to reporters via video conference on Thursday for the first time since suffering the injury in Week 15, Mahomes explained that he has been meeting every benchmark set by his doctors.
“Everything’s been going really well,” Mahomes said. “I’m focusing on rebuilding strength and regaining full mobility, and I’ve been rehabbing here in Kansas City the whole time. Julie Frymyer has done an amazing job pushing me, while the doctors keep setting targets for me to reach. I usually want to do more, but they make sure I don’t go too far.”
While Mahomes acknowledged that recovery timelines can be unpredictable, he made it clear that returning for Week 1 is his primary objective.
“The long-term goal is definitely to be ready for Week 1,” he said. “The doctor said it’s possible, but you never know how the process will go. That said, I’m preparing myself to be ready with no limitations.”
Mahomes added that he expects to participate in limited activities during OTAs and be much more involved once training camp begins.
The injury occurred late in a loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, a game that officially eliminated the Chiefs from playoff contention. That same day, Green Bay Packers star Micah Parsons also suffered a torn ACL. Parsons has since said he hopes to return by Week 1 as well, though he believes Weeks 3 or 4 may be more realistic.
Mahomes revealed that immediately after the injury, he asked the Chiefs’ medical staff if he could wear a brace and continue playing, but the request was denied.
Reflecting on the 2025 season, Mahomes took responsibility for Kansas City’s struggles. The Chiefs finished 6–11 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2014.
“A lot of it came down to mistakes piling up,” Mahomes said. “For me, some of the red-zone interceptions in key moments during the second half of games really stand out. That’s not something I’d done much before. Offensively, we lacked consistency. We had good stretches, even good periods during the season, but we need to be better—and that starts with me.”
Statistically, Mahomes posted a career-low stretch in efficiency, averaging just 7.1 yards per attempt—his third-lowest mark—and 256 passing yards per game, the second-lowest average of his career.
