Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes talks Week 1, taking hits and progress in ACL recovery

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Updated: 4:30 PM CDT Aug 25, 2026

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Nick Sloan

Digital Content Producer

A day after Chiefs head coach Andy Reid wouldn't make a prediction about Patrick Mahomes availability for Week 1 against Denver, Chiefs fans heard from the man himself on Tuesday.

Mahomes spoke to reporters, saying that Week 1 was always been the target since his injury last December.

"This has always been the plan: is get be ready for training camp, get all the reps in training camp, prepare your body that way, so that when you get to week one, you're ready to play the game and you've had the right amount of time off," Mahomes said.

Mahomes said he did not miss a single Chiefs training camp practice rep and said his body was responded well enough that he feels better with activity.

He also told reporters that he has made "quick and reactionary cuts" and felt great doing it."

"I try to not make those hard cuts and stuff like that. But at the end of the day, I'm a competitor, and it kind of just takes over sometimes," Mahomes said. "So you want to still prove to yourself that you can do it. And I've been able to do that in certain spots, making quick cuts, making reactionary cuts, which I think is the biggest thing when it comes to this, and felt great doing it."

There are a couple of hurdles left for Mahomes: playing in a game and getting hit.

Mahomes has not played in the preseason, something that's been a first for him as he enters his 10th NFL season.

Still, he said he hasn't felt any hesitation yet with his knee.

"You know, obviously I haven't played in the game and been able to get hit," Mahomes said. "But having people around me and competing and doing stuff like that, it's almost like I do everything I naturally do, and then after, it's kind of like the coaches coaching me, like, ‘Hey, let's calm down a little bit.’ Being a competitor, I want to go out there and win."

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