Patrick Mahomes is still working his way back from the torn ACL he suffered late last season, but the Chiefs quarterback says the grind of training camp is doing exactly what he wants it to do.
With Kansas City down to one final preseason game Friday against the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, Mahomes still hasn’t been cleared for Week 1 in official terms. He also hasn’t taken part in any preseason action. Even so, he’s been on the field for everything else since camp opened.
“The more we practice, the better I feel,” said Mahomes, per Nate Taylor of ESPN on X, formerly Twitter.
He said staying active throughout camp has been a big part of the process.
“It's been awesome for me to be able to do that. I haven't had to miss anything, other than the preseason games. I've done every single [practice] rep,” he said.
That’s the encouraging part for Kansas City: Mahomes is getting work in, stacking reps and building toward the season while he continues the recovery process. The Chiefs are hoping the version of him they get early this year looks a lot closer to the one they’re used to, though some rust wouldn’t be a shock after the rehab he’s been through.
Mahomes still put together a solid season last year, but the team around him unraveled. Kansas City struggled to find a running game, the defense took a major step back, and the slide ended with the Chiefs missing the playoffs for the first time since Mahomes arrived.
The franchise spent the offseason trying to reset both sides of the ball. The Chiefs signed reigning Super Bowl MVP running back Kenneth Walker III from the Seahawks and traded up to take cornerback Mansoor Delane in the first round.
Kansas City opens the regular season on September 14.
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Chiefs Just Added Another Young Pass Rusher Fighting For A Roster Spot
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To make room, the Chiefs waived receiver Jeff Caldwell with an injury designation. Kings path has already included a stop with the Chargers before he was released and eventually landed in Kansas City, which gives him another chance to prove he belongs. For a team always looking for affordable help up front, the signing is the kind of low-risk move that can quietly matter if a young player flashes during camp. [Read more 🡒]