Patrick Mahomes Injury Update Given By Chiefs' Andy Reid Amid Rumors About QB's NFL Week 1 Status

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid stopped short of saying Patrick Mahomes will be on the field when the team hosts the Denver Broncos in Week 1 of the 2026 campaign, but he said there is a "chance" that will happen.

"He's getting better every day, he's not taking any setbacks," Reid said during a Thursday appearance on The Rich Eisen Show (30-second mark). "... It's a day-to-day thing, and as long as he keeps making progress forward, maybe we'll have a chance to see him in the first game. But we'll play that as we go."

Mahomes underwent surgery for a torn ACL and LCL in December and told reporters the following month, "I want to be ready for Week 1."

He was also throwing by March:

Chiefs general manager Brett Veach also told SiriusXM NFL Radio earlier this month the quarterback is "way ahead of schedule."

That is welcome news for Kansas City, as Mahomes is a franchise legend with three Super Bowl titles on his resume at just 30 years old. The team is looking to bounce back from missing the playoffs entirely during the 2025 campaign, and having its leader under center from the start of the 2026 season is the best way to do just that.

Kansas City's Week 1 game against the Broncos is also an important one, as Denver is coming off an AFC Championship Game appearance and figures to be on the short list of realistic Super Bowl contenders this season.

The Chiefs acquired Justin Fields this offseason as something of a contingency plan should Mahomes not be ready to go. While Fields is far from Mahomes, he is an experienced option with 53 career starts and could use his legs to keep the offense moving until the starter is ready to return.

But early indications are Mahomes will be on the field in Week 1.