Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes: 'I want to be ready for Week 1' - ESPN

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes intends to be ready for Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season.

Mahomes had surgery in mid-December to repair two torn ligaments in his left knee, and he said during a Zoom call Thursday that his rehab is «hitting all the checkpoints» that could get him back for summer workouts and perhaps even training camp this fall.

«I want to be ready for Week 1. The doctors said I could,» Mahomes said, «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. I hope to do some things in OTAs and training camp and be able to do things there.»

Mahomes tore the ACL and LCL on Dec. 14 in the waning minutes of a loss to the Chargers, one that effectively eliminated the Chiefs from playoff contention. Initially, Mahomes said, he didn't think the injury was too severe, and he even lobbied the training staff to put some kind of brace on his knee so that he could finish the game.

It wasn't until an MRI afterward revealed the torn ligaments that Mahomes knew his season was over. The procedure to repair them was performed about 24 hours later by well-known orthopedist Dr. Dan Cooper in Dallas.

The recovery time for such an injury is about nine months, though it could vary by several months depending on various factors. Next season is expected to kick off Sept. 10, 2026, and the Chiefs could play their first game a few days later.

«What I've found out through this process is not every day is going to feel amazing,» Mahomes said. «You have to have somebody you trust that's going to get the best out of you, but that's going to keep you safe.»

Mahomes has been doing most of his