With Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes returning to OTAs after suffering from a season-ending knee injury last season, the football world is wondering if the quarterback will return to his prior dominance this year. As Mahomes and the Chiefs prepare for a hopeful Week 1 return to games, this one analyst believes the quarterback is in for a big season.
Mahomes would have a down season due to some regression, but also the injury that knocked him out for the rest of the season, as the superstar is looking to turn it up a notch in 2026. ESPN's Jordan Reid would feel the same, having the bold prediction that Mahomes will return from his knee injury and win his third Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.
“Last season, the Chiefs missed the playoffs for the first time in Mahomes' nine-year career, and he underwent surgery to repair torn ligaments in his left knee. No matter. The three-time Super Bowl winner will return with a vengeance. He'll benefit from a formidable offensive line and a rushing attack led by Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III,” Reid wrote.
Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes is “ahead of schedule”
Last season with the Chiefs, Mahomes threw for 3,587 yards to go along with 22 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, which are the first two numbers among his career lows. When it comes to his recovery from the knee injury, NFL insider Jeremy Fowler would say last Wednesday that Mahomes is “ahead of schedule.”
“Source I talked to said that he's been rehabbing like a maniac in Kansas City. Sometimes he spends the offseason, or parts of it, in Texas throwing with his receivers or back home. He's been in Kansas City for the majority of this time to really dig into the rehab. He's in there every day, six to seven hours getting after it,” Fowler said.
“I'm told the next step is the cutting part,” Fowler continued. “That's where he's got to get comfortable. He's been throwing off and on for really the last month or so.”
Mahomes has set a tone with his uncompromising rehab routine in KC this offseason. He’s leaning into the Week 1 goal. One next step is cutting. https://t.co/iZDjixfz2u pic.twitter.com/WfEOZDZddp
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) May 27, 2026
Mahomes and Kansas City prepare in the offseason after missing the playoffs last season.
