Patrick Mahomes returned from major knee surgery Monday night and immediately helped the Kansas City Chiefs open their season with a 31-10 victory over the Denver Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium.
Nine months after tearing the ACL and LCL in his left knee, Mahomes was asked about his main concern heading into his return game and the quarterback admitted it was how the surgically repaired joint would respond to contact.
“If I was going to say anything, it’s probably just get hit on it,” Mahomes said. “But I just wanted to play. I’ve done so much rehab and so much work to got to put myself in this position. I just wanted to play. This is what you do it for.”
Mahomes received an immediate confidence boost on Kansas City’s opening drive, even though one of his scrambles going for a touchdown was erased by a penalty, turning that into a 15-yard score on the following play.
“That was definitely the moment physically where that kind of said all this work has paid off,” Mahomes said. “Like, I didn’t feel anything. And so it’s still a process; I still have to keep getting better and better and stay on top of it, but this is obviously a great first week.”
Mahomes finished with 184 passing yards and two touchdowns while rushing seven times for 23 yards and another score while wearing a lightweight brace protecting his repaired knee.
Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
The Chiefs quarterback participated throughout training camp but did not play during the preseason. Monday marked Mahomes’ first opportunity to absorb live contact since the injury.
“For me, running, like I said, I wasn’t going to go for the end zone, [but] it kind of gave me that confidence back and let me be out there and be myself,” Mahomes said.
ALSO SEE:
- What the Jets Have (Not) Accomplished Is Actually Pretty Amazing
- How Did the Cowboys’ Defense Become Even Worse in 2026?
- Poll: Who Wins Broncos-Chiefs on Monday Night?
Speaking of running, Chiefs rusher Kenneth Walker III helped ease Mahomes back into action by rushing for 173 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries in his Kansas City debut.
The Chiefs will look to build on their opening victory when they face the Indianapolis Colts in Week 2 at 8:20 p.m. ET.
