Patrick Mahomes just hit a massive milestone in his comeback from a brutal torn ACL and LCL in his left knee. The Kansas City Chiefs’ superstar quarterback has officially been cleared to participate in practice sessions as training camp gets going for the 2026 NFL season. This is the news everyone’s been holding their breath for, but it’s still a wild ride ahead for that left knee.
Andy Reid Sounds Off on the Return
Chiefs coach Andy Reid, the 68-year-old veteran, dropped the update on July 24, telling reporters that Mahomes is “doing great.” Not only is he doing great, but he’s got full clearance to jump into “all the different periods we have in this camp.” Reid made it clear they’re taking things “day by day,” and Mahomes will have “plenty of eyes on him from coaches to trainers to doctors.” But the bottom line? He’s been cleared to go ahead and participate fully. Reid also couldn’t help but brag a little about Mahomes’ incredible rehab work during the offseason, saying he’d been “working so hard you have a pretty good feel that he’s in a pretty good place.” That kind of dedication means this year’s training camp might not feel “too different” for Mahomes, even with that serious knee injury hovering.
Week 1: Optimism Meets the Day-by-Day Grind
So, the million-dollar question: Will Mahomes be ready to hit the field for Week 1? Reid is feeling good about it, stating, “I’m optimistic, and I know he is extremely optimistic.” You love to hear that confidence, right? But the coach isn’t one to get ahead of himself. He’s still pumping the brakes, saying they “gotta see how things go here” and that he doesn’t want to “make any predictions or anything else.” It’s still a “take it day-by-day” situation when it comes to the opener. Mahomes might be back on the practice field, but that left knee recovery is clearly a marathon, not a sprint.
The next few weeks of Chiefs training camp are going to be absolutely critical. Every single rep Mahomes takes, every movement, will be scrutinized. We’re all watching to see if this incredible effort to return quickly can actually get him fully game-ready for Week 1. This story is definitely one to keep an eye on!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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