Patrick Mahomes (Getty Images)
“I’ll give every single thing I can to be out there Week 1 and hopefully the doctors and the coaches give me the green light and I’m able to go out there with my guys and compete against one of the best teams in the league. The Broncos ranked first in the NFL in limiting opponents’ success rate on dropbacks, allowing a success rate of just 38.5%.
“I don’t want to miss that game because that’s the team that won the division while we were gone and you want to be out there and ready to go with your teammates,” Mahomes said. He was also a full participant in practice throughout the week, giving the Chiefs plenty of reason to feel confident about his return. His recovery has been closely watched ever since. Mahomes began throwing again by March, took part in limited offseason work in May and continued building toward his target of being ready for the opening game. That target was never a secret. In July, Mahomes made it clear how much tonight’s game meant to him. Mahomes’ return comes at a difficult time for the Chiefs. Denver enters tonight’s game with a defense that gave opposing quarterbacks plenty of trouble last season. Their pressure package features Nik Bonitto, while Pat Surtain II anchors a secondary that remains one of the toughest groups Mahomes will face.
Mahomes enters today’s game without an injury designation, which is the strongest indication that he has received the green light to play.
Chiefs Look to Bounce Back as Mahomes Returns from Injury
The Kansas City Chiefs are eager to move on from a disappointing 2025 season, finishing with a 6-11 record and missing the playoffs for the first time since 2014. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes is entering his 10th NFL season, facing the pressure of restoring the team’s status among the AFC’s elite.
Tonight’s game marks Mahomes’ first action since having knee surgery, providing a crucial test for his recovery. His performance will be closely monitored as it will indicate how well he can handle the demands of an NFL game after an extended absence from the field.