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The Kansas City Chiefs’ decade-long streak of playoff appearances came to an abrupt end in Week 15 of last season after they came up short at Arrowhead Stadium in a game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffered a season-ending ACL injury as he struggled to try to gain some yards in the final minutes of the game.
At the time, the Chiefs said Mahomes would “begin his rehabilitation process immediately.” On Thursday, the two-time NFL MVP took a major step forward, 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 yelled twice as he jumped onto the bench to celebrate, a knee brace serving as a reminder of his reconstructed knee. Thursday’s session marked the first practice of the week that was open to media observation.
While the three-time Super Bowl champion participated in seven-on-seven drills, he did not participate in 11-on-11 work. Mahomes is approximately five months away from undergoing a procedure to treat a torn ACL and ACL.
PATRICK MAHOMES PITCHING FOOTBALL AGAIN THREE MONTHS AFTER ACL RUP
“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 those days you’re in rehab, you’re here by yourself or with a couple of other guys. You kind of get that energy when everyone comes back into the building. It was good to be out there.”
In January, Mahomes said his goal was to be ready for the Chiefs’ regular-season opener in September. This week he retired that goal.
Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs brings 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 there’s still a long way to go. I can’t predict the future. So all I can do is be great today and continue to be great tomorrow. But I’ve gotten to where I’ve gotten because of that mentality.”
Chiefs coach Andy Reid continued a cautious approach with Mahomes this week, keeping the quarterback out of drills where there was a higher risk of unwanted contact.
Regardless of the limited workload, Reid credited Mahomes for the months of work he put in to get to this stage of his recovery, saying the quarterback had “broke his tail” to return to the practice field.
“I like what I’ve seen. He’s working hard,” Reid said. “This is good for him; going out and pitching is good for him.”
While Mahomes is back to throwing, he said he has yet to fully improve his career, describing it as the next phase of his recovery.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes battles during the second half of an NFL game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Kansas City, Missouri, on December 14, 2025. (Charlie Riedel/AP)
“I’m in a good place now compared to what some people thought, but I thought I’d be here,” Mahomes said of his progress. “It’s just about doing what I’m supposed to do every day and hopefully that will give me a chance to be out there with the guys every time we start the season.”
Mahomes said he doesn’t plan to change his style of play once he suits up in games, insisting he’ll still “go out on a limb 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, on the other end, is to be ready to be able to go out and play with the guys in Week 1 at Arrowhead,” Mahomes added. “But I have to take it day by day.”
