Reid Updates Mahomes Rehab, Chiefs’ Plans for Fields

“Every player’s different,” Reid told Mike Garafolo from the annual AFC coaches breakfast. “I will tell you, though, I would never bet against him. He's always going to put in the time and the effort, and always push it -- but within reason. You take steps back but, so far, it's all been positive.”

Mahomes, who turns 31 in September, threw for the first time last week, exactly 100 days after the Dec. 15 procedure to repair the ACL and LCL in his left knee. And after he displayed a flawless seven-step drop on Instagram, he traveled to Lubbock, Texas, to support NFL prospects at the Texas Tech pro day Thursday.

Talk about miracles

He’d be ecstatic if one of those prospects, edge rusher David Bailey, miraculously falls to the Chiefs, who own the ninth-overall selection in the April 23 draft. But the Chiefs would settle for what’s quickly gravitating from miraculous to unsurprising – Mahomes in the huddle for Kansas City’s first snap in Week 1.

Reid said Mahomes had been devoting at least seven hours a day to his rehabilitation at the Chiefs’ facility, working closely with assistant athletic trainer Julie Frymyer. ACL rehabilitation requires daily strengthening of the affected area immediately after surgery, and Mahomes began his return the day after that Dec. 15 procedure.

Reid on packages for Justin Fields

Jesse Newell, who covers the Chiefs for The Athletic, said Reid refuses to box in Justin Fields as simply a quarterback who runs specific packages.

Fields doesn’t figure to be bored while Mahomes is working through rehab. There’s a good chance Fields will take first-team reps through Phases 2 and 3 of the offseason program, organized team activities and the mandatory minicamp in June.

And, obviously, if Mahomes isn’t ready for that Week 1 game, Reid feels good about Fields as his starter. The Bears’ first-round selection in the 2021 draft (11th overall), Fields has 60 games of NFL experience, including a playoff contest. And 53 of those games were starts.

The other two quarterbacks on the Chiefs’ roster, Jake Haener and Chris Oladokun, have combined for 12 games and three starts.