Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes Gives Updated Timeline for NFL Return amid Knee Injury Rehab

Patrick Mahomes plans on returning for the start of the 2026 NFL season.

The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback, who is recovering from a torn ACL, said Thursday his goal is to be ready for Week 1 without any restrictions. He also said rehab is going well and that doctors have told him to hold back at times.

Mahomes suffered the injury during the Chiefs' Week 15 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Dec. 14, so being completely cleared to play with no restrictions by early September in Week 1 would be a fairly quick turnaround time.

Still, he was optimistic he could do so and explained the doctors said it would be possible even if there is a long rehab process ahead of him.

The future Hall of Famer will surely be motivated to return to the field and play at a high level after the Chiefs missed the playoffs entirely this season. The team's 6-11 record was quite a jarring result considering it reached at least the AFC Championship Game in each of Mahomes' first seven years as a full-time starter.

Kansas City also reached five Super Bowls during that span, including the last three, and won three Lombardi Trophies.

The modern-day dynasty seems to be tenuous at this point with Mahomes' health and question mark and speculation that tight end Travis Kelce may retire. A quick return from a torn ACL would quiet some of that concern and perhaps put the Chiefs back on track to be among the best teams in the AFC in 2026.

Both the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers made the playoffs this season with franchise quarterbacks in place with Bo Nix and Justin Herbert. The Las Vegas Raiders also have the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL draft and could select their own franchise quarterback.

The AFC West will be anything but easy in the coming years, so Mahomes' rehab and ability to return to his dominant form will be key for the Chiefs in 2026 and beyond.

And it sounds like the initial rehab steps are going well.