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The Kansas City Chiefs’ decade of playoff appearances came to an abrupt end in Week 15 of last season after falling short at Arrowhead Stadium in a game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffered a season-ending ACL injury when he struggled to gain a few yards in the final minutes of the game.
At the time, the Chiefs said Mahomes would “begin his rehabilitation process immediately.” The two-time NFL MVP took a significant step forward on Thursday, returning to the practice field for seven-on-seven drills and connecting with wide receiver Xavier Worthy for a touchdown pass.
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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes warms up before an NFL game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Jacksonville, Florida on June 6, 2025. (Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP)
“Come on, baby!” Mahomes screamed twice as he jumped toward the sideline to celebrate, with a knee brace reminding him of his reconstructed knee. Thursday’s session marked the first practice of the week open to the media.
While the three-time Super Bowl champion participated in seven-on-seven drills, he did not take part in 11-on-11 work. Mahomes is about five months removed from a procedure to treat a torn ACL and LCL.
PATRICK MAHOMES STARTS FOOTBALL AGAIN THREE MONTHS AFTER ACL TEAR
“It was good to be back on the field with the guys, more than anything,” Mahomes said after Thursday’s organized team activities (OTA) session. “Some of these days when you’re in rehab, you’re here alone or with a few other guys. You kind of feel that juice when everyone comes back into the building. It was good to be out there.”
In January, Mahomes said he was aiming to be ready for the Chiefs’ regular-season opener in September. This week he withdrew that goal.
Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs carries the ball past Danielle Hunter and Azeez Al-Shaair of the Houston Texans during the third quarter at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri on December 7, 2025. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
“That’s always going to be the goal. I don’t want to miss games. As a competitor — as a football player — I want to be there,” Mahomes said. “I know it’s still a long way off. I can’t predict the future. So all I can do is be great today, and continue to be great tomorrow. But I got to where I got because of this mindset.”
Chiefs coach Andy Reid continued with a cautious approach with Mahomes this week, keeping the quarterback out of drills where there was a greater risk of unintentional contact.
Regardless of the limited workload, Reid thanked Mahomes for the months of work he put in to reach this point in his recovery, saying the quarterback had “busted his tail” to get back on the practice field.
“I like what I’ve seen. He works hard,” Reid said. “It’s good for him – going out and throwing is good for him.”
Although Mahomes has returned to throwing, he said he has not yet fully ramped up his running, describing it as the next phase of his recovery.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes goes on a rampage during the second half of an NFL game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Kansas City, Missouri, December 14, 2025. (Charlie Riedel/AP)
“I’m in a good place now compared to what some people thought, but I thought I was going to be here,” Mahomes said of his progress. “It’s just doing what I’m supposed to do every day, and hopefully that will give me a chance to be with the guys whenever we start the season.”
Mahomes said he has no plans to change his style of play once he suits up for games, insisting he will “always put everything on the line for my guys” when the moment calls for it.
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The Chiefs will host the Denver Broncos on September 14 in the regular season opener for both teams.
“The goal at the end – all the way down – is to be ready to be able to go play with the guys in Week 1 at Arrowhead,” Mahomes added. “But I have to take it day by day.”
