Former Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Trent Green has a simple way of describing Patrick Mahomes after a long offseason of rehab.
A motivated Mahomes, Green said, is a dangerous one.
Green made the comment while helping unveil a Dr Pepper Fan Wall of Fame painting at Indiana University, his alma mater. He spoke with Chiefs Wire about the two-time MVP’s recovery from last season’s knee injury and his expected return for Kansas City’s opener.
Mahomes tore the ACL and LCL in his left knee during a Week 15 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. He had surgery the following day by Dr. Dan Cooper, the Dallas Cowboys’ team physician.
Doctors initially warned the recovery could stretch into October. Mahomes instead set Week 1 as the goal and worked with the first-team offense throughout training camp.
Green said that plan has been obvious from the start.
“Well, I always say that a motivated Patrick Mahomes is a dangerous Patrick Mahomes, and I think he has always found ways throughout his career, whether it be in college or the NFL, to try and prove people wrong,” Green said.
The Chiefs host the Denver Broncos on Monday night at Arrowhead Stadium. Green expects Mahomes to be under center.
“I like a motivated Patrick Mahomes. I think he’s gonna, I think he’s gonna have a good year, and I think he will be starting Week One against Denver on Monday night. I’ve seen him take every rep at practice,” Green said.
“He hasn’t played in the preseason for good reason. Listening to his interviews and comments, and from the chance to talk to him through the preseason broadcast, I do see every indication that he will be ready for Week 1, and that was his motivation.”
Green pointed to the timing of the surgery as proof the organization had the opener in mind all along.
“That was why he got the surgery as quickly as he did when the doctor said, ‘Listen, you can be ready in nine months.’ It’s like, okay, we’re gonna do the surgery this day, and nine months from this day is the opening day. So they’ve had a plan from the beginning,” Green said.
Green knows the grind. He previously suffered an ACL, MCL and lateral meniscus injury of his own.
“I love the work that he’s put in. It’s not easy. It’s not an easy task. I did ACL, MCL, lateral meniscus. He had an ACL and LCL. So it’s a little different injury, a little different surgery and recovery,” Green said.
He added that the process can stall when strength or range of motion lag behind a player’s timeline.
“So I give him credit for what he’s doing, getting back as quickly as he has, and if you watch him the way I’ve watched him in practice, it looks like the regular Patrick Mahomes,” Green said. “It doesn’t look like a guy who’s nine months removed from one of the most devastating injuries you can have.”
Mahomes finished the 2025 season with 3,587 passing yards, 22 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions in 14 games. He also ran for 422 yards and five touchdowns before the injury ended his year. Those rushing totals were career highs.
Green said Mahomes’ body of work before turning 30 already stands out.
“We could sit here for the next half hour and rattle off all the records that he has before the age of 30, whether it be win total, whether it be yardage, completion percentage, touchdowns, whatever it may be, playoff numbers — I mean, it’s phenomenal what he’s been able to do in his career,” Green said.
Mahomes sat out all three preseason games by design. Head coach Andy Reid said after roster cuts that the quarterback would keep getting his work in practice.
“He’s going to keep practicing just like he’s been doing,” Reid told the Associated Press. “These are more like practice here, a lot of one-versus-one play these next couple of days. That’s a good thing.”
Wide receiver Xavier Worthy spent extra time this offseason rebuilding timing with Mahomes while the quarterback continued rehab.
“Me and Pat, we’ve kind of been working this offseason, the timing and stuff you need to work on,” Worthy said. “I feel like when it’s time to play, we’ll all be ready.”
Worthy said Mahomes’ approach has set a tone for the rest of the locker room.
“His will and want-to is beyond anything I’ve ever seen,” Worthy said. “He kind of leads the team in that way. You have your leader leading like that and guys fall behind. He’s just a ‘will’ guy, always willing to work.”
The Broncos won the AFC West last season at 14-3 while Kansas City finished 6-11. Monday night’s game is the first meeting of the year between the division rivals and the first time Denver has opened a season at Arrowhead.
Mahomes has three Super Bowl titles and two MVP awards. At 30, he is still the center of Kansas City’s offense. Green’s warning to the rest of the league is that the version coming back may be the motivated one.
