Patrick Mahomes hasn't played in the NFL since suffering a season-ending knee injury last December, but he's hoping to have a big impact during the upcoming campaign
12:08 ET, 17 Jul 2026
Patrick Mahomes wants to have a big 2026 season
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Patrick Mahomes wants to have a big 2026 season(Image: Getty Images)
Patrick Mahomes has reiterated his plan to play in Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season.
Mahomes, the starting quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs, suffered a serious knee injury last December, leaving his 2026 season in doubt. The 30-year-old required surgery to fix his injured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and lateral collateral ligament (LCL).
A torn ACL is one of the most common serious injuries in contact sports. It can take up to a year, sometimes even longer, to recover from it, yet Mahomes is determined to be healthy in time for the new NFL season, which starts in just under two months' time.
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The three-time Super Bowl winner is also excited to take part in training camp, which starts later this month.
“That’s my goal,” Mahomes told Yahoo Sports Daily when asked if he still plans to play in Kansas City's opener against the Denver Broncos on September 14. "I've said that since the beginning, (the goal) is being ready to go Week 1.
"I can’t predict the future, and I know that it’s a long process. It’s not just my decision, but at the same time, I’m going to give the doctors and the coaches every single opportunity I can to let me be out there Week 1."
Mahomes was seen wearing a knee brace at the mandatory minicamp
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Mahomes was seen wearing a knee brace at the mandatory minicamp(Image: Getty Images)
Mahomes has plenty of motivation to be healthy for that game. The former Texas Tech quarterback has dominated the NFL since becoming Kansas City's starter ahead of the 2018 season, leading the Chiefs to seven consecutive AFC West titles.
The Broncos dethroned Mahomes and his teammates last season by recording a 14-3 record to clinch the AFC West title. Mahomes will be desperate to beat Denver in Week 1 and make a statement ahead of their title battle.
Mahomes will also be keen to remind everyone why he's the most successful quarterback of his generation. Despite only turning 30 last year, he's already played in five Super Bowls, winning three, and is a two-time regular-season NFL MVP.
But, for the first time in his professional career, the Chiefs struggled last season. Their star quarterback was unable to stop them from plummeting out of playoff contention before suffering his brutal injury against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Mahomes will want to prove the 2025 season was a one-off. Beating the Broncos in Week 1 will go some way to proving that.
"I don’t want to miss that game because that’s the team that won the division while we were gone, and you want to be out there and ready to go with your teammates," Mahomes added.
"I’ll give every single thing I can to be out there Week 1, and hopefully the doctors and the coaches give me the green light, and I’m able to go out there with my guys and compete against one of the best teams in the league."
Yet Mahomes returning within nine months of suffering his injury is leaving Chiefs fans concerned. They don't want to see him rushed back prematurely and suffer a new injury.
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Mahomes continued: "All I can do is be as great as I can be every single day. You just have to maximize that day and slowly get better and better as the year goes on.
"I’m excited to get back to training camp. I’m excited to get the guys back around. I’ve kind of been in the building in Kansas City by myself. Just (to) have the guys back and getting to be on the football field will get me going and get me ready for the season."