Patrick Mahomes will once again carry the Chiefs’ championship hopes into the 2026 season. Entering his tenth NFL season, the two-time NFL MVP continues to work his way back from ACL and LCL injuries suffered in December.
While Kansas City is optimistic about his availability for Week 1, the offense will need more than just a healthy Mahomes if it hopes to return to the postseason after missing the playoffs in 2025.
One of the groups Mahomes will be counting on is his receivers. Kansas City’s passing game already features Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy, but rookie Cyrus Allen quickly became one of training camp’s biggest surprises before suffering a shin injury during a special teams drill.
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Head coach Andy Reid confirmed to reporters that Allen has already earned Mahomes’ trust, leading to concerns when the rookie went down.
The Chiefs received encouraging news Friday as Allen returned to practice, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Prior to the update, the rookie was seen in pads and Matt Derrick of Chiefs Digest reported that he could get his first contact work immediately.
Kansas City selected Allen in the fifth round (No. 176 overall) of the 2026 NFL Draft out of Cincinnati. During his lone season with the Bearcats, he caught 51 passes for 674 yards and 13 touchdowns, leading the Big 12 in touchdown receptions while earning Second-Team All-Big 12 honors.
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Allen has already drawn praise from Reid and teammates for his chemistry with Mahomes before the injury. With the rookie back on the field, Chiefs fans will be eager to see whether he can build carve out a role in Kansas City’s offense when the regular season begins against the Denver Broncos on Sept. 14.
