Kansas City Chiefs' Mahomes fully cleared for training camp
The Kansas City Chiefs have fully cleared quarterback Patrick Mahomes for training camp after he recovered from a torn ACL and LCL in his left knee. Medical staff and surgeon Dr. Dan Cooper cleared him Wednesday; Mahomes says he feels amazing and will lead first-team drills.
Key Takeaways
- Patrick Mahomes is fully cleared to take part in Kansas City Chiefs training camp practices.
- He will still wear a compression sleeve and brace on his surgically repaired left knee.
- Coach Andy Reid does not plan to limit Mahomes from his usual practice repetitions.
- Mahomes wants to start the Sept. 14 home opener against the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football.
- Backup Justin Fields is unlikely to see a long look as starter if Mahomes stays on track.
According to ESPN, the clearance came just two days before Mahomes arrived at Missouri Western State for camp in St. Joseph, Missouri. Chiefs doctors and Cooper, the Dallas Cowboys head team physician who performed the surgery, signed off after Mahomes showed he could run, cut, and change direction.
What did Mahomes say about his recovery?
Mahomes said Friday he feels stronger than ever in the weight room and called his condition amazing. After months of rehabbing indoors in Kansas City, he is eager to practice with teammates again.
As in the offseason program, he will keep the sleeve and brace on his left leg. The bigger change is that he is expected to run the first-team offense in 11-on-11 periods throughout camp, working with Kenneth Walker III, Travis Kelce, Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, and Tyquan Thornton.
"I want to go out there and test the knee," Mahomes said, asking Reid to call plays as he would in the regular season. He also cited advice from Tom Brady and Tyrann Mathieu, who returned to All-Pro form after ACL tears.
Will the Kansas City Chiefs have Mahomes for Week 1?
Reid said he will not limit Mahomes' usual reps but cautioned against Week 1 predictions. He told reporters Pat is doing great, has clearance for all camp periods, and will be monitored day by day. Reid said he is optimistic and that Mahomes is extremely optimistic about the opener.
Mahomes has made starting Sept. 14 his mission. If progress continues, Kansas City must still decide whether he plays in either of the first two preseason games. He has never missed an entire preseason in his nine-year career, but he said regular-season readiness comes first and that coaches and doctors will decide.
Why does this update matter for the Kansas City Chiefs?
A healthy Mahomes reshapes the quarterback picture. Yahoo Sports noted that former Steelers quarterback Justin Fields, acquired amid Mahomes' injury recovery, now faces a narrower path to snaps if the star stays fully cleared and on pace for Week 1.
For fans tracking roster news beyond the field, BlasterPost also covers broader innovation stories in our Future Tech & AI Wonders hub. On the field, Mahomes framed camp as the hardest preparation stretch of his year and said he is glad to start it fully cleared.