
It only took Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes one drive to answer any questions about his recovery from a torn ACL.
The two-time MVP, starting nine months to the date he suffered his injury, scrambled for an opening-drive touchdown on "Monday Night Football" against the defending AFC West champion Denver Broncos.
On 2nd-and-goal from the 15-yard line following a holding penalty, Mahomes dropped back to pass but couldn't find an open receiver. He shifted up in the pocket with a stutter-step before finding a rushing lane, taking off and diving into the end zone for the score.
"Same old Patrick," play-by-play announcer Joe Buck commented.
Patrick Mahomes with a rushing TD in his first game back from his torn ACL pic.twitter.com/nRlD2UvXJS
— ESPN (@espn) September 15, 2026
If this were somebody's first time watching Mahomes, they'd have no idea he had undergone major knee surgery less than a year ago. The three-time Super Bowl MVP didn't appear limited at all, which has to be up there on the list of his most impressive NFL accomplishments.
Head coach Andy Reid wisely didn't put much on Mahomes during the opening drive, beginning with four consecutive handoffs to running back Kenneth Walker. Seven snaps on the 10-play scoring drive were designed runs.
If anything, Mahomes looked more like a quarterback who didn't play a snap during the preseason, showing more rust throwing the football. Through Kansas City's first three drives, he was 2-of-8 for 14 yards, his worst miss an overthrow on a deep attempt to Tyquan Thornton. But another incompletion came when center Creed Humphrey muffed the snap, and the Broncos also tipped a pass at the line of scrimmage.
It was anyone's guess how Mahomes would look so soon after tearing his ACL, but early indications are that his surgically repaired knee is the least of his concerns.
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