Patrick Mahomes isn’t planning on going into his “Monday Night Football” return to the field with any limitations.
The Chiefs’ star quarterback underwent a nine-month rehab from surgery to repair a torn ACL and LCL in his left knee after suffering the injury during a Dec. 14 game.
Speaking with reporters on Thursday, Mahomes said that he’s “got to go out there and be myself.
“I’ve built up the strength [in my knee] and built up all the days of rehab so that I can be myself,” he said, according to ESPN. “I’m going to keep myself out of harm’s way, like I always will, not trying to take big hits.
“But I’m a competitor, I signed up for this and I’m going to go out there and play football. That’s how I’ve always rolled, no matter what it is.”
Mahomes suffered the season-ending injury in a loss to the Chargers, essentially putting a bow on an already disappointing season for Kansas City. The Chiefs failed to make the playoffs after reaching the Super Bowl in three consecutive seasons, winning titles in two of those.
The Chiefs will host the Broncos on Sept. 14 in their season opener, and Mahomes has indicated he will have no qualms about taking the ball and running it himself while under center in his first game back.
“That’s what makes me who I am,” Mahomes said. “I just love competing. Playing quarterback is one thing, but you’ve got to love competing to have success in this league. I’ll try not to lay any blocks [in the open field], hopefully — unless it’s needed.”
Chiefs coach Andy Reid told reporters that the team’s offensive game plan will not look any different from years past.
Prior to the injury, Mahomes completed 315 passes (on a career-low 62.7 percent completion rate) for 3,587 yards and 22 touchdowns in the 2025 season.
