Patrick Mahomes shares major injury update as preseason opener approaches

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid strongly suggested recently that quarterback Patrick Mahomes won't play in the team's preseason opener versus the Los Angeles Rams on Aug. 15. 

While Mahomes hasn't played in a game since he suffered a torn ACL and torn LCL on Dec. 14, 2025, he was fully cleared to participate in training camp practices earlier this summer. He offered a new update on what continues to be a remarkable recovery.

Patrick Mahomes "feels great" amid injury recovery

"It feels great," Mahomes explained, per Grant Gordon of the NFL's website. "Pushing every single day, trying to stack days together. I feel like when you're tired, sometimes you don't even think about it. So, I'm trying to protect it, but at the same time, I’m trying to push it and get myself ready to go for the season." 

Mahomes has a history of participating in August preseason games. However, Reid said that "the percentages likely lean against" the three-time Super Bowl MVP playing against the Rams, at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Aug. 22 and against the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks on Aug. 28.

"It definitely feels like it's going quick," Mahomes acknowledged about his recovery. "I feel like your whole career, though, you have to enjoy the moments. To have that different perspective, now being a father, is to enjoy the little moments and enjoy the time at camp, enjoy cafeteria, because all of a sudden you're going to look up, you're not going to be coming back here. And so, I hope that's a long ways away, but I do enjoy getting to be here, listen to this music I've never heard of, and just be that the old guy at camp now and try to build those relationships with your teammates." 

Does Patrick Mahomes think he'll be good for Week 1?

It was reported that the Chiefs "are fully expecting" Mahomes to play in their Week 1 "Monday Night Football" home game versus the rival Denver Broncos on Sept. 14. Understandably, he isn't quite ready to make any guarantees about his status for that contest. 

"I forget about it sometime," Mahomes added about his injury. "I try to be smart, like I said, but there's sometimes you get through camp, man, you're trying to compete, practices are long, and I mean, you want to win the rep. So, there's times where I do forget about it and just play football, which is a good thing, and then I'll have to do that again whenever we get to the regular season. So, it's about learning how to play with what I’ve got, and I feel like I'm able to move and do the things that I can, and we're going to keep pushing it and see where I can get it to. So I can hopefully get that okay to go out there and play Week 1."