Patrick Mahomes is reaching a promising stage in his recovery from left knee surgery, one where the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback sometimes forgets the injury altogether during practice.
After another training camp session on Saturday, Mahomes offered an upbeat assessment of how the surgically repaired joint is holding up as the team prepares for its regular-season opener against the Denver Broncos on Sept. 14.
“It feels great,” Mahomes said. “When you’re tired sometimes, you don’t even think about [the knee]. I’m trying to protect it, but at the same time trying to push it and get myself ready to go for the season.”
The three-time Super Bowl MVP entered camp determined to test his mobility in the pocket during full 11-on-11 work. As practices have lengthened and the competitive intensity has risen, those instincts have increasingly taken over.
“I try to be smart, but there’s just sometimes where, in camp, you’re trying to compete and practices are long,” Mahomes said. “I mean, you want to win the rep. There’s times where I do forget about it and just play football.”
One such moment came during Friday’s padded practice. In a two-minute drill on fourth down, with his receivers covered, Mahomes scrambled to his right. Rookie defensive tackle Peter Woods cut off the sideline, forcing the quarterback to plant, change direction, and attempt an underhand pitch to running back Kenneth Walker III as he went to the ground. The ball was recovered by cornerback Chris Roland-Wallace.
Mahomes later reflected on the play with a mix of competitiveness and self-awareness.
“I’m trying to hold myself back because I’m just a competitor,” he said. “I like competing. All of a sudden, I’m running and cutting back and trying to pitch the ball. But when it’s fourth down, you want to try to make a play happen. I’m not going to lose who I am, but I’m going to try to keep myself smart and keep myself in position to be out there for my teammates.”
He was particularly frustrated with the outcome. “I was more mad at myself that I didn’t get the first down,” Mahomes admitted. “If I really had that go, I would’ve been able to beat Peter Woods, but he’s kind of fast. If I’m not going to be able to scramble and get the first down, I’ve got to throw the ball and give someone else a chance. It’s learning with what I’ve got. As I get more and more used to it, I’ll get faster and faster and have the chance to make more plays.”
Despite the encouraging signs, head coach Andy Reid appears inclined to keep Mahomes on the sideline for preseason games, including the opener against the Los Angeles Rams on Aug. 15.
Reid has indicated there is a strong possibility the quarterback sits the entire preseason, something Mahomes has never done in his nine NFL seasons.
Mahomes, for his part, is content to follow his coach’s lead. “I’m for whatever Coach says,” he said. “I’m going to prepare to play. He hasn’t told me anything. I’ll prepare to get myself ready. If not, I’ll be as locked in as I am during games and try to get myself ready to go for the season opener. It’s just a process of trying to make sure you’re ready for the season, and whatever Coach thinks is best I’ll do.”
