Jhelum Mehta
After weeks of low-key teasers, from vacation flicks to off-season party cameos, Patrick Mahomes stopped playing coy and addressed the biggest question hanging over Kansas City. All offseason, the Kansas City Chiefs—and their fans—were locked in on one thing: will Mahomes be ready to roll come Week 1? Now, we’ve got our answer.
Mahomes just hit IG. And Chiefs Kingdom is reading between the lines.
Can Patrick Mahomes Be Ready by September?
The QB1 dropped a new post on Instagram of in-game shots, rocking No. 15, a Chiefs hoodie, signature Adidas cleats, and that tunnel walk energy. The caption? Just a ⏰ (clock emoji). And if you know Mahomes, you know that clock means one thing—he’s gearing up.
Mahomes is still rehabbing from that torn ACL he suffered in Week 15 of the 2025 season. He went under the knife on Dec. 15, with an expected 9–12 month recovery window—so we’re looking at September at the earliest.
Back in February, Andy Reid said Mahomes was grinding. Logging seven-hour rehab days at the facility. Classic QB1 behavior. But let’s be real: ACL recoveries aren’t a straight go-route. There are cuts, setbacks, and the occasional audible. Mahomes might be eyeing Week 1, but nothing’s locked in yet.
And the Chiefs are playing it smart. They made a move on March 16, trading with the Jets for Justin Fields. He’s your insurance policy; QB2 on paper, but fully capable of holding it down if Mahomes isn’t cleared.
