Mahomes' Week 1 return hangs in the balance. NFL concerns and cryptic leaks cast doubt on his readiness for the season opener.
Despite tearing his ACL and LCL last season and undergoing surgery, Patrick Mahomes has been all about positivity as it relates to his readiness for the start of the 2026 NFL season.
The Kansas City Chiefs' superstar QB - and the pride of Texas Tech - even posted a video of himself throwing the ball around just 100 days after his knee surgery.
But ... there's now a "but.''
The NFL’s Annual League Meetings are taking place this week, so coaches and GMs and owners are available for media visits.
The list of interviewees includes Chiefs owner Clark Hunt, and what seemed like an innocuous statement about the yet-to-be-released NFL schedule has turned into a "leak'' of sorts regarding Mahomes' rehab schedule.
“I don’t think that’s on the table anymore,” Clark said when asked if Kansas City might start the season against Seattle in a special Wednesday Week 1 game.
That's fine. No biggie. But why not?
“I think from a league standpoint, there would be some concern whether (Mahomes) would be ready to go.''
Oh.
In other words, the NFL might love to pit KC at Seattle in that showcase ... but not if there is a possibility that the most high-profile athlete involved ... well, won't be involved.
Mahomes, who recently attended the Texas Tech Pro Day and who certainly seemed to be in good spirits, will be fine eventually on the field in 2026.
But word is that the NFL schedule will be released on May 14, and that date figures to be too early to know whether the quarterback will be ready for Week 1.
Overall, coach Andy Reid is giving positive marks on the progress of Mahomes, who moved from Lubbock to become a three-time Super Bowl champion, a three-time Super Bowl MVP and a two-time NFL MVP in KC.
“He’s doing great,” Reid said last week. “He spends a ton of time in the building. He’s in there for seven hours a day. It’s showing the progress.''
But again, another "but'' ...
"Now, to tell you a timeline? I mean, I know what he’s striving for,'' Reid said. "We’ll just see where it goes from there.”