thesun
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has offered a promising assessment of quarterback Patrick Mahomes' rehabilitation progress following his knee surgery. The 68-year-old coach indicated that the 30-year-old signal-caller is positioned to be under center for the team's season opener against the Denver Broncos on Monday, September 14.
Mahomes sustained a devastating knee injury during a December 2025 matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers, which prematurely ended his season. Subsequent medical evaluation revealed tears to both the ACL and LCL in his left knee, necessitating surgical intervention. This raised questions about his availability for the start of the 2026 campaign.
However, Reid has expressed confidence after observing Mahomes' impressive return to practice during the offseason. Speaking to reporters, Reid noted, "Yeah, he looked pretty good today, I thought. Strong. You see the strength in his legs, which is important with a leg injury. You kind of look at that first. See how his feet are moving, feet are moving well. So, I thought it was positive. I mean, I thought he looked well."
Key Analysis
Mahomes has diligently worked to regain full fitness, drawing on advice from NFL legend Tom Brady, who overcame a similar ACL and MCL injury in 2008 and went on to win the Comeback Player of the Year award the following season. The Chiefs' franchise quarterback has acknowledged that his performance in the previous season fell short of expectations, as the team stumbled to a 6-11 record and missed the playoffs for the first time in a decade.
Reid emphasized that he is closely monitoring Mahomes' progress, stating, "I'm obviously giving a close eye on him. I'm not the doctor, but I'm keeping a close eye on the small things, technique-wise." Meanwhile, the Chiefs have bolstered their quarterback depth by signing Justin Fields, 27, from the New York Jets, providing additional insurance behind Mahomes.
Originally reported by thesun.