Patrick Mahomes' potential injury return draws concerns

Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes didn't stop to cry over the spilled milk.

Unlike most injured athletes, he went under the knife almost right after suffering a torn ACL and LCL, most likely looking to speed up his recovery time. With a projected nine-month timeline, Mahomes could technically be on the field for the season opener. However, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler believes he's being way too optimistic.

Patrick Mahomes may not be healthy for Week 1 in 2026

In his latest column, Fowler argued that while the Chiefs roster might be better by the start of the 2026 season, their star quarterback should probably take some more time.

"I expect the Chiefs' roster to be vastly improved by the time Mahomes returns, which should be some time next season, though Week 1 feels awfully ambitious," Fowler wrote. 

Fowler said that the fact that Mahomes didn't want to wait to undergo surgery was telling of his desires, but that doesn't mean they'll come to fruition.

"He faces a lengthy nine-month recovery from a torn ACL and LCL, a timeline that threatens the early portion of the 2026 season. That he had the surgery so soon after the injury occurred was telling," Fowler continued. 

The Chiefs have a lot of work to do this offseason. Travis Kelce might retire, and they have roughly 36 players under contract, just six draft picks and are projected to be $44 million over the salary cap. 

Getting Mahomes back on the field should be priority No. 3 in Kansas City. It needs to assemble a strong supporting cast first and then ensure he's back to full strength before considering him for Week 1.