Late in the past NFL season, Patrick Mahomes suffered a torn cruciate ligament. Chiefs coach Andy Reid has now given an insight into the health of his quarterback.

The Kansas City Chiefs’ already more than modest 2025 NFL season experienced its final fiasco on 14 December when quarterback Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL in the game against the Los Angeles Chargers.

An injury that normally results in at least nine months off in the NFL. Which is why it is likely to be a race against time to see whether Mahomes will be fit in time for the start of the 2026 season.

Mahomes himself recently provided optimism, with the 30-year-old posting a video of himself throwing balls on social media. And head coach Andy Reid has now also praised his superstar’s hard work in the highest terms.

“He’s doing great,” said Reid on the sidelines of the league’s annual meeting in Phoenix. “He spends an incredible amount of time at the training center. He’s there seven hours a day. The progress is clear to see.”

Reid trusts Fields: “Can win games for us”

However, Reid did not want to commit to whether Mahomes will be fit for Week 1 in mid-September at this still early stage of his rehab. “As for the timetable? I know what his goal is. We’ll just see how it goes,“ Reid said.

If Mahomes needs some time before the start of the season, Reid has full confidence in rookie Justin Fields, who was acquired via trade from the New York Jets.

”We went out and got a good quarterback to replace him,” Reid said. “So if he doesn’t make it, so if he can’t be there for the start of the season, then we know we have a reliable replacement who can win games for us.”

Written by Michael