Three weeks before their Week 1 game against the Denver Broncos on “Monday Night Football,” the Kansas City Chiefs are uncertain if quarterback Patrick Mahomes will be ready to play. Head coach Andy Reid shared updates on Monday, indicating that Mahomes’ recovery appears positive. Nevertheless, Reid held back on confirming Mahomes’ availability for the matchup with the Broncos.
“He’s doing great,” Reid reported. “We’ll just see. I’m taking it day by day. There are no predictions on anything. But if the doctors, trainers, and everyone involved approve, and most importantly, if he feels ready, then we’ll address that when we reach that point.”
Mahomes has expressed optimism throughout this offseason, maintaining that he plans to participate in Week 1. He is recovering from a severe ACL injury sustained in Week 15 last year. Playing in the season opener would signal a nine-month recovery, considered swift for such an injury.
Some voices have warned that Mahomes might be rusty upon his return. However, Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees is confident in Mahomes’ ability to perform at his pre-injury level. “I think there’s no doubt that physiologically Patrick Mahomes is fine,” Brees said to TMZ. He acknowledged a mental challenge, explaining, “There’s that mental hurdle to overcome to feel like, ‘Hey, I can take a hit.’ That psychological barrier of playing freely without hesitation is significant.” Brees concluded by expressing confidence that Mahomes’ best performances are yet to come.
Brees’ view is quite optimistic, especially considering Mahomes will be 31 days out from the season start and recovering from significant surgery. There are also pressing questions about the Chiefs’ wide receiver lineup, prompting analysts to suggest Mahomes might need extraordinary efforts to propel the team back to the Super Bowl.
At the time of his injury, Mahomes accumulated 3,587 yards, with 22 touchdowns and 11 interceptions last season. Additionally, a change in offensive coordination sees Eric Bieniemy replacing Matt Nagy. Bieniemy previously served as the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator during some of Mahomes’ standout seasons.
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