Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes hopes to be back for the start of the 2026 season, but if he's not ready to go, the team could turn to this premier QB2.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes hopes to be ready to start Week 1 of the 2026 season after tearing two ligaments in his left knee against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 15.
Fans held their breath as they watched their best player go down and not get back up. At that point in the season, the Chiefs were fighting to keep their playoff chances alive. Although their chances were slim even with a victory, the loss ended their streak of 11 consecutive postseason berths.
But the focus wasn’t on missing the playoffs anymore, it was on Mahomes, the lifeblood of the franchise. He’s always been tough and resilient, which is why him undergoing surgery the very next day (and not waiting the standard two-to-four weeks) wasn’t shocking to anybody.
Mahomes wants to be out on the field with his teammates, and he has been rehabbing so hard that doctors have had to tell him to chill. His goal is to be ready to participate in OTAs and training camp to be ready for Week 1, but Mahomes understands he can’t predict what will happen during the recovery process.
If Mahomes isn’t showing signs that he will be ready, or the Chiefs want to be extra cautious with their star QB, Kansas City will need to turn to a formidable replacement to hold down the fort until he comes back.
ESPN’s Seth Walder tried to predict every team’s starter for Week 1, and though it’s contingent on Mahomes not being healthy enough to play, he labeled former Washington Commanders QB Marcus Mariota as Kansas City’s starter.
“If that is the case, they'd want a reliable backup who can ideally win a few games while Mahomes finishes up his recovery. I believe Mariota fits the bill,” Walder wrote Wednesday.
“The 32-year-old stood in for Jayden Daniels for eight starts in Washington last season and was capable, with a 50.2 QBR. He has a long history of being solid, which is essentially what Kansas City needs -- a player who can keep the team afloat in Mahomes' absence but is willing to be a backup and won't be overly expensive.”
Mariota played 11 games (eight starts) for the Commanders last season and while he went just 2-6, he was more than serviceable and has been in the backup role. He completed 61.2 percent of passes for 1,695 yards, 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions with a 74.8 on-target percentage.
Mariota was efficient with his legs last season, rushing 50 times for 297 yards and a touchdown. The dual-threat QB adds an extra element that most backups don’t possess, so he would be an excellent option for Kansas City if Mahomes is unable to go in Week 1 or beyond.