Patrick Mahomes testing knee in Chiefs camp: ‘It feels great’Nate TaylorAug 8, 2026, 02:26 PM ETMultiple Authors
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ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Quarterback Patrick Mahomes smiled Saturday when he thought about his left knee, the same knee he has tested the past two weeks during Chiefs training camp.
“It feels great,” Mahomes mentioned. “When you’re tired sometimes, you don’t even think about [the knee]. I’m trying to protect it, but at the same time trying to push it and get myself ready to go for the season.”
Mahomes mentioned he has had more and more moments where he scrambled out of the pocket without having to consider his left knee, which was surgically repaired in December after he tore his ACL and LCL. Those repetitions, which also happened in Saturday’s on-field work, are further validation to Mahomes that he is on track to be the Chiefs’ starter for their season opener, a home game Sept. 14 against the Denver Broncos on ESPN’s “Monday Night Football.”
When camp began, Mahomes mentioned one of his top priorities was to improve his movement within the pocket, especially since it was going to be his first 11-on-11 since surgery. In the past week, though, Mahomes mentioned he has had to alter his mindset when he does decide to scramble.
“I try to be smart, but there’s just sometimes where, in camp, you’re trying to compete and practices are long,” he mentioned. “I mean, you want to win the rep. There’s times where I do forget about it and just play football.”
The perfect example occurred during Friday’s padded practice. During an 11-on-11 repetition in which the offense was tasked with moving the ball down the field in less than two minutes, Mahomes noticed quickly that his passing options were covered on a fourth-down play. He scrambled to his right, showing noticeable speed in his attempt to reach the first-down marker. Rookie defensive tackle Peter Woods closed Mahomes’ angle to the sideline, so the quarterback cut back and used his right hand to make an underarm lateral attempt to running back Kenneth Walker III before falling to the turf. The repetition ended with cornerback Chris Roland-Wallace recovering the ball.
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“I’m trying to hold myself back because I’m just a competitor,” Mahomes mentioned. “I like competing. All of a sudden, I’m running and cutting back and trying to pitch the ball. But when it’s fourth down, you want to try to make a play happen.
“I’m not going to lose who I am, but I’m going to try to keep myself smart and keep myself in position to be out there for my teammates.”
A day later, Mahomes explained that he wouldn’t make a similar mistake in a game.
“I was more mad at myself that I didn’t get the first down,” he mentioned. “If I really had that go, I would’ve been able to beat Peter Woods, but he’s kind of fast. If I’m not going to be able to scramble and get the first down, I’ve got to throw the ball and give someone else a chance. It’s learning with what I’ve got. As I get more and more used to it, I’ll get faster and faster and have the chance to make more plays.”
Mahomes has had his usual repetitions during camp, leading the first-team offense in every 11-on-11 period. In Saturday’s practice, Mahomes and the first-team offense went through the long-drive period, a drill from coach Andy Reid in which the projected starters had 16 consecutive repetitions.
Following Friday’s work, Reid acknowledged that Mahomes will likely not play in the Chiefs’ preseason opener next Saturday against the Los Angeles Rams.
“[The] percentages are leading that way,” Reid mentioned. “I don’t know if I’ll play him in the second or third game. I don’t know that. The percentages probably lean against not doing that.”
If that happens, Mahomes, a nine-year veteran, will miss the entire preseason for the first time in his career.
“I’m for whatever Coach says,” Mahomes mentioned. “I’m going to prepare to play. He hasn’t told me anything. I’ll prepare to get myself ready. If not, I’ll be as locked in as I am during games and try to get myself ready to go for the [season opener]. It’s just a process of trying to make sure you’re ready for the season, and whatever Coach thinks is best I’ll do.”
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