News has broken that Patrick Mahomes is now on track to participate in organized team activities for the Kansas City Chiefs. Mahomes suffered a season-ending torn ACL on December 14th, and there has been speculation about what his and the Chiefs’ plans are for the upcoming season, given how late the injury occurred. Some have suggested that Kansas City allow him extra time to recover—possibly even the entire year—to ensure that when he returns, he’s fully healthy rather than rushed.
Photo Cred: Yahoo Sports
While the Chiefs would likely be less competitive without him, that approach could benefit them long term. A down year could result in better draft positioning for a second straight offseason, helping the team quickly retool and address weaker areas of the roster. That line of thinking holds some weight, especially considering the Chiefs were eliminated from playoff contention with a losing record last season—even before Mahomes went down. For years, Kansas City dominated the division while the Las Vegas Raiders, Denver Broncos, and Los Angeles Chargers struggled.
However, that dynamic has shifted over the past two seasons, with both the Broncos and Chargers making the playoffs in back-to-back years. With the division now more competitive, even a healthy Mahomes may not be enough to immediately return Kansas City to dominance. If he comes back too soon and the team still hovers around mediocrity, it could hurt their long-term outlook—costing them valuable draft positioning without delivering true contention.
Photo Cred: NBC News
If Mahomes plays in Week 1, it would mark a return just 8 months and 30 days after his injury—slightly below the typical nine-month recovery timeline for a torn ACL. It remains unclear how the Chiefs will ultimately handle the situation, but the organization has rarely shown interest in punting on a season. A midseason return could be the most realistic scenario, giving Kansas City a chance to stay competitive early and potentially make a late playoff push if they can hover around the .500 mark in his absence.
