The big storyline this offseason surrounded the health and recovery of Patrick Mahomes. When would the two-time MVP quarterback be able to return to action for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2026?
While the early indicators are that he'll be back out there in time to face the Denver Broncos in Week 1, Adam Schefter is telling people to maybe pump the brakes a bit. During an appearance on Get Up, Schefter reminded people just how brutal Mahomes' injury was and to maybe take a step back and reevaluate his injury and what he'll be able to do.
"As much as we know Patrick Mahomes and as great as he's been, I don't know that we know what we're going to get from Patrick Mahomes early on. Let's not diminish the fact that he tore his ACL, he tore his LCL, he's had a toe injury. Like this is a major injury. How does a player come back from that? When he comes back right away, assuming he plays that Monday opener, do we think we're getting the full-on Patrick Mahomes in Week 1?"
Adam Schefter raises a fair point regarding Patrick Mahomes' recovery
In Schefter's defense, this is a fair point to bring up. Maybe Mahomes is healthy enough to play in Week 1 but there's no telling that he'll be anywhere close to the version Chiefs fans have grown accustomed to watching. He might be slower and unable to pull off those nifty plays he had once mastered.
Ryan Clark's follow-up to what Schefter said will make Chiefs fans feel better though. The former NFL defensive back and current analyst for ESPN thinks Kansas City did enough to help ease Mahomes back in so that he doesn't have to immediately be back to his normal self.
"I don't believe you get the full-on Patrick Mahomes, but I also believe he's talented enough to figure it out. I believe listing those injuries, though, Shefty, says how much he had to do. The sort of load Patrick Mahomes truly was carrying for the Kansas City Chiefs, and that's why Kenneth Walker III is there. That's why Eric Bieniemy is back. It's about holding this team accountable up front, on the outside, in the run game, to say Patrick Mahomes doesn't have to do it all, especially after coming off of that surgery."
Clark nailed it with his assessment. Brett Veach knew that Mahomes would need help in the run game more than ever so he was aggressive in adding Kenneth Walker III to the backfield. The Chiefs also got Eric Bieniemy back as their offensive coordinator and that's when Mahomes and the team had the most success on that side of the ball.
Hopefully, it was enough to help ease Mahomes back in so that he can eventually revert back into the player he all know and love him for being. But, if not, he and the Chiefs will just have to learn a different way to win games.
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