Patrick Mahomes might play Week 1. He might not.
That's not the biggest worry for the Kansas City Chiefs, though. They've got bigger fish to fry.
And so when taking the Chiefs' upcoming season in a big-picture view, they aren't going to be as concerned with Mahomes' return date as much as when Mahomes is himself again.
He almost certainly will be at least a little rusty or hesitant when he's first back on the field. If he can return to his usual self quickly, that'll be a boost for the Chiefs' chances.
If, though, Mahomes struggles to play at his usual high standard, it might not matter that much for Kansas City that he's back.
"So far, all reports about Mahomes' rehab have been positive and encouraging," ESPN's Dan Graziano wrote in a new article on Tuesday. "A Week 1 return feels like a strong possibility. The question then becomes whether the injury affects him moving forward, and if so for how long."
The Chiefs had their worst season in the Mahomes era in 2025, going 6-11 and missing the playoffs by a bunch.
It wasn't just because of Mahomes' injury -- they were already trending that way long before he got hurt.
Kansas City had a lot to address this offseason, and to be fair, the Chiefs did a good job of seeking improvements.
"The Chiefs did a lot to strengthen their defense this offseason, and they made the big-splash signing of Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III at running back," Graziano writes. "But they still haven't done much with the wide receiver group, and tight end Travis Kelce has slowed down late in his career. So the Chiefs still need Mahomes to be their difference-maker. The sooner he looks like his old self, the sooner we can get back to talking about the Chiefs as Super Bowl contenders."
It'd be weird for the Chiefs to have two bad seasons in a row. That's just not how things work for them these days.
But to ensure this is a good one, Mahomes won't just have to be back on the field. He'll have to be his full-fledged Mahomes self.