Chiefs back on biggest stages despite Mahomes injury, uncertainty - ESPN

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Even after a disappointing 6-11 in 2025, the Kansas City Chiefs are still very much one of the NFL darlings, especially when it comes to the 2026 schedule.

Despite missing the playoffs, and with quarterback Patrick Mahomes rehabbing from a serious left knee injury and tight end Travis Kelce potentially near the end of his illustrious career, the Chiefs were still given plenty of spotlight games for the fall. Or you could say all those storylines are exactly why on Thursday, the league, in its full reveal of the schedule, wanted the Chiefs to be on the marquee for six primetime or stand-alone games.

The league — and its several TV partners — appear to be betting that Mahomes, who tore the ACL and LCL in his left knee Dec. 14, will be on the field for opening night, which will be a «Monday Night Football» home game Sept. 14 against the Denver Broncos — and for the duration of the season. The Chiefs, too, are optimistic that Mahomes will be in uniform that night.

«I don't want to speak for Rick Burkholder, our [head] trainer, and I'm not a doctor, but it has been just an awesome experience to see exactly how Pat Mahomes has attacked this rehab process,» Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said earlier this month on the «Pat McAfee Show.» Veach added: «He is in this building [from] 7 [a.m.] to 3 or 4 [p.m.] every single day. If he goes to Texas for a few days, he takes one of our assistant trainers with him.

»Because of that hard work, I think he's pretty far ahead of schedule. He's such a motivating presence and an example to the building on how to approach every day like a true professional. I'm excited for him to get back out there."

Much of the Chiefs' first game is about both quarterbacks. Bo Nix, the