Patrick Mahomes Will Return from Injury for Chiefs' Week 1 Game vs. Broncos, Wear Knee Brace

After suffering a torn ACL in Week 15 of the 2025 season, Kansas City Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes has recovered in time to open the 2026 campaign.

On Thursday, Mahomes discussed being available for the Chiefs' Week 1 contest against the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football.

"This has always been the goal," he said. "Now I get to go out there and play the sport I love."

He also said he would wear a knee brace.

Kansas City had acquired backup quarterback Justin Fields from the New York Jets over the offseason to fill in for Mahomes when needed, but the two-time NFL MVP is coming back with a vengeance.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid announced before training camp that Mahomes was fully cleared to practice, which was an early sign that things were moving in the right direction. Mahomes later said his knee "feels great," but he was held out of all three of the team's preseason games.

Mahomes and the Chiefs are coming off their worst season in quite some time. Kansas City went 6-11 to finish under .500 for the first time since 2012 and miss the playoffs for the first time since 2014.

In 14 starts, Mahomes threw for 3,587 yards, 22 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He also added career highs of 422 rushing yards and five scores on the ground, but he sustained 34 sacks, and the physical toll was eventually too much to bear.

The 2025 season wasn't great for Fields, either, as he was benched multiple times by the Jets before being placed on injured reserve in December. He had a 2-7 record in nine games as New York's starter, throwing for 1,259 yards, seven touchdowns and an interception while adding 383 rushing yards and four more scores.

The Chiefs signed star running back and Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker III, so he should help take pressure off Mahomes and provide more balance on offense.

Mahomes is clearly motivated to lead the Chiefs back to prominence, and his speedy recovery will surely have fans excited for the season opener against the Broncos.