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Patrick Mahomes on track to start season opener following knee surgery
The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback participated in training camp after December knee surgery, though offensive line injuries remain a concern ahead of Week 1.
The short version
- Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is poised to start Week 1 against the Denver Broncos after recovering from December surgery on torn knee ligaments.
- Mahomes exceeded initial medical estimates targeting an October return and practiced with the first-team offense throughout training camp, though he sat out all preseason games.
- Injuries across Kansas City's offensive line, including issues for left tackle Josh Simmons and guard Trey Smith, present protection uncertainties heading into the opener.
Key facts
- Patrick Mahomes is on track to start Week 1 for the Chiefs following December surgery to repair torn ligaments in his left knee.[Associated Press]
- Mahomes practiced with the first-team offense during training camp but did not take any snaps in preseason games.[Associated Press]
- Left tackle Josh Simmons missed practice on Wednesday due to an ongoing back issue, while guard Trey Smith has dealt with a hip injury.[Associated Press]
- To bolster offensive line depth, the Chiefs acquired Diego Pounds from the Baltimore Ravens and Joshua Ezeudu from the New York Giants in exchange for late-round draft picks.[Associated Press]
What remains uncertain
- It is uncertain whether Josh Simmons or Trey Smith will be healthy enough to start on the offensive line for the season opener.[Associated Press]
- The impact of Mahomes not participating in live preseason game action remains untested entering Week 1.[Associated Press]