Andy Reid and Chiefs owner at odds over Patrick Mahomes return amid Week 1 uncertainty

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid believes there is a strong possibility that Patrick Mahomes will be his Week 1 starter.

The three-time Super Bowl champion quarterback is rehabbing a torn ACL and LCL, having undergone surgery to repair his left knee in December.

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Since the turn of the year, Mahomes is said to have spent almost every day at the training facility, to attack a comeback that typically takes around nine months.

That timeline would put him in doubt to play the season opener come September, but speaking this week, Chiefs HC Reid refused to rule anything out.

Andy Reid shares positive Patrick Mahomes update

“Every player is different. I will tell you though, I would never bet against him,” he said Tuesday, at the NFL‘s annual league meetings.

“He’s going to put in the time and effort and always push it but within reason, so he doesn’t take steps back.

“So far, it’s all been positive. He’s doing great.”

According to ESPN, Mahomes has often been rehabbing alongside Julie Frymyer, the athletic trainer who has helped him recover from previous injuries.

He spends at least seven hours in the facility day-to-day, to go through treatment and exercises that will increase the flexibility and strength in his left knee.

Mahomes also teased his progress on social media last week, by sharing a short clip that showed himself throwing the football again.

“Day by Day!” he wrote his Instagram story.

“Felt Great being able to throw the ball around today!”

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While the signs appear positive, Chiefs owner Clark Hunt isn’t too sure his star quarterback will be back for Week 1.

Chiefs owner ‘concerned’ Patrick Mahomes won’t be back for curtain raiser

On the first day of the annual meetings, Hunt appeared to hint that Kansas City won’t open the season against the defending champion Seattle Seahawks, because of Mahomes.

“I don’t think that’s on the table anymore,” he said, via ESPN’s Nate Taylor.

“I think from a league standpoint, there would be some concern whether (Mahomes) would be ready to go.”

The NFL, of course, would want a blockbuster match-up for their curtain raiser. The Seahawks and the Chiefs would usually provide that.

However, if Mahomes isn’t fit, that game loses an awful lot of appeal.

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It would make sense to schedule it for later in the season when the QB is healthy, but Hunt’s suggestion led to some fans once again arguing that the NFL is ‘rigged’ in favor of the Chiefs.

“So the Chiefs get the easy schedule until their QB gets back? Weak s***,” one posted on X, responding to the suggestion Seattle and Kansas City won’t open the season.

“NFL scheduling is helping the Chiefs so they don’t start the season with a loss?” another questioned.

“This is absolutely insane to me if this is true. WTH does it matter if Mahomes is good to go or not? The schedule should be the schedule,” a third said.

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Chiefs looking to ‘fill in some blanks’ ahead of 2026 season

Mahomes, undoubtedly, is key to the Kansas City puzzle — and any hopes of bouncing back from a poor 6-11 finish in 2025.

Due to their disappointing record, the Chiefs have a top 10 pick for the first time since taking their franchise star in 2017.

While the team might be in transition, Reid believes free agency and the upcoming draft will offer a chance to ‘fill in some of the blanks’ ahead of the new season.

“It’s the influx that comes in,” he said from his table at Tuesday’s AFC coaches’ breakfast.

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“What are they? Then, are they willing to step up? Sometimes, when you get rid of some people and all of a sudden you see this life from the person that’s behind them, and it’s maybe a different picture than you maybe anticipated.

“I think that’s one of the neat things about movement in this league. We’ve had success with it, so we’ll see how it goes. We’ll see how we can fill in some of the blanks there.”

Speaking on the draft, where the Chiefs currently have two first-round picks (their No. 10 selection and No. 29 from the Los Angeles Rams), he added: “It’s a position you don’t want to be in, but we’re there.

“(General manager) Brett Veach does a great job of working at his job. I know he’s fired up about it.

“I’ve heard all the stories about the draft being this and that, but there are going to be some good players in those spots, and we welcome good players onto the team.”

Things, perhaps, are falling into place for Kansas City.

Mahomes is said to be ahead of schedule in his recovery, and Reid is re-tooling the roster around him. Once again, the Chiefs could be the team to watch in 2026.

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