Patrick Mahomes finally gave Chiefs Kingdom something to smile about after months of disappointment.
Mahomes, 30, spoke to the media on Thursday, Jan. 15, when he provided an update on his recovery process after undergoing surgery last month to repair his torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) and LCL (lateral collateral ligament).
“The rehab is going great so far,” Mahomes said. “I’m hitting all the checkpoints the doctor wants you to do. Getting strength and range of motion back. So it’s been going great. So far I’ve done everything here in Kansas City.”
Mahomes continued, “I want to be ready for Week 1. The doctors said I might be. I can’t predict what’s going to happen throughout the process, but that’s my goal. I’m going to try to prepare to be ready to play this Week 1 and I have no restrictions.”
The Chiefs quarterback expressed optimism that he could participate in OTAs (Organized Team Activities) and training camp in some capacity.
“I’ve got to take it easy, but at the same time I’m going to try to be there as much as I can,” Mahomes said. “We have a big plan in place for where we want to go. We have to let it all go and take it day by day, which has been difficult for me.”
Muhammad was torn both his ACL and his LCL during a game against the Los Angeles Chargers on December 14.
He was asked on Thursday about the “balance” of wanting to return to the start of the season, while also considering his long-term football prospects.
Travis Kelce’s barber made sure the Kansas City Chiefs star looked fresh as fans await a decision on his NFL future. Kelce, 36, called Vince Garcia into his Los Angeles shop for some prep this week, which Garcia showed off on social media. “It’s always good to catch up hungry! Thank you 👊🏽💯”, Garcia (…)
“That’s something I have to think about, something the coaches and the organization have to think about,” Mahomes said. “But at the same time, that’s why they give me limits on where I can push it…Knowing myself, I’m going to push it to that exact limit every day. There are places you can’t go yet, places I want to go, but I can’t go yet.”
In discussing the mental toll the injury has taken on him, Mahomes credited his work ethic and the support of his wife, Brittany Mahomesand his three children.
“It definitely weighs on your mind a little bit,” he admitted. “But for me, just having that goal in mind of trying to get better every day and knowing what I’m trying to do, which is to be ready as soon as possible and have a chance to play in the opening day game, wherever it is, because I’m there with my teammates and I can be on the practice field and doing what I need to do, I think that’s kind of the mental hurdle.”
Mahomes added, “That, plus I have a great wife who’s able to keep me involved with the kids. And the kids understand that the dad can’t necessarily be the dad that I’m usually throwing them around on couches and things like that.”