Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes continues to stay on message about his timeline to play.
The Kansas City Chiefs can be masters of misleading information when it comes to some of their more controversial players--i.e., the ones in legal hot water--but there’s no mixed messaging coming from quarterback Patrick Mahomes as he continues to rehab after knee surgery and prepare for training camp.
Mahomes’ goal is to play in Week 1, and all reports have him on track to do just that. This isn’t surprising given his track record, work ethic and history of returning from lesser injuries, but his consistency is still impressive.
“That’s my goal,” Mahomes said in a report from Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk that referenced an interview on Yahoo Sports Daily. “I’ve said that since the beginning, 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 has made consistent progress, and the Chiefs have spoonfed information to the media and public about it. The quarterback has gone along with the program because he knows he’s a team leader, so it’s important in that context as well.
The fact that the Chiefs will be playing the Denver Broncos in their home opener gives an extra layer of motivation.
“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 said. “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.”
The quarterback acknowledged that his return has been part of what he called a “long process,” but he feels he’s in a good spot right now. Mahomes doesn’t talk about rehab the way most players do, as he doesn’t hesitate to mention how it fits into his view of greatness.
“[A]ll I can do is be as great as I can be every single day,” Mahomes said. “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.”
