Patrick Mahomes Reveals He Was Ready for Chiefs Return Months Before Season Opener

Mahomes Was Physically Ready by Early June

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes knew months ago that his surgically repaired knee would be ready for the team’s season opener against the Denver Broncos. FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer revealed on “FOX NFL Pregame” on Sunday, September 13, that Mahomes told him two weeks earlier that he had been physically capable of playing since the beginning of June. According to Glazer, Mahomes said he was ready in the first week of June and could do everything. That means Mahomes felt ready more than three months before his scheduled return against Denver.

The Injury and Recovery Timeline

Mahomes tore both the ACL and LCL in his left knee during a game in December 2025. Nine months later, he is preparing to start Kansas City’s first game of the 2026 season. Glazer also shared another detail about the quarterback’s recovery. He said Mahomes chose not to wait for the swelling in his knee to subside before undergoing surgery. That decision helped move his recovery timeline forward. Patrick Mahomes’ return will officially come nine months to the day after he suffered the knee injury.

Dancing at Kelce’s Wedding as Part of Rehab

Mahomes recently spoke with ESPN’s Chris Berman about attending Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift’s wedding at Madison Square Garden in New York on July 3. Mahomes attended with his wife, Brittany Mahomes, and said he was excited to celebrate his long-time teammate’s marriage. He said he was super excited to see Kelce and Swift come together and that they are two special people. He called it one of the best nights of all time for anybody. 

The quarterback also joked that he made a point of keeping his distance from Chiefs head coach Andy Reid once the dancing began. Mahomes said he stayed away from Coach Reid, saw him early to say hello, and then found a corner in the back once the music started. Mahomes had already reached the point in his recovery where he felt he could do everything by then. He joked to Berman that seeing his dance moves on the floor was part of his rehab process.

No Limitations for Season Opener

Mahomes announced last week that he expects to play without limitations against Denver. He told Berman that he was banged up at the end of last year but that he is good to go now. The Chiefs ultimately missed the playoffs last season for the first time in Mahomes’ career. His return will be a major boost for a team looking to get back to the postseason. Mahomes and the Chiefs open the 2026 season against the Broncos on September 14 on “Monday Night Football”.

Chiefs Look to Bounce Back

The Chiefs are hoping that a healthy Mahomes can lead them back to contention. Last season was a difficult one for the franchise, as they failed to make the playoffs for the first time since Mahomes became the starting quarterback. With Patrick Mahomes back and reportedly feeling no limitations, the team has high expectations for the new season. The opening game against Denver will be the first test of how far Mahomes has come in his recovery. The Chiefs and their fans will be eager to see him back on the field.

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