The Kansas City Chiefs are looking forward to a fresh start with the upcoming season, as quarterback Patrick Mahomes returns from a brutal season-ending injury after he tore his ACL and LCL in his left knee.
He’s had months of recovery and rehabilitation and is now back on the field at training camp, which is a welcome sight for fans, teammates, and his head coach, Andy Reid. During a recent chat with CBS Sports, Reid spoke about what he’s seen from Mahomes so far, and it sounded like there is plenty to be excited about.
“He just goes, and he doesn’t complain. He gets his rehab taken care of before and after practice. You know how he is. He’s all in,” Reid told CBS Sports’ Evan Washburn. “He’s a great example to all the other guys around him with how much ‘I’ll do whatever I have to do to get myself on the field.'”
“We monitor it. I’m gonna listen to the doctors. I’m gonna listen to the trainers, because I know how he’s wired, and then you take it day by day, but he’s attacked every day,” he said.
Asked if he’s developed a new appreciation for Mahomes’ dedication to his craft, Reid said that “he had a great teacher with [Travis] Kelce … the first one to do it.” Reid said Mahomes also saw how former QB Alex Smith did things during his career.
“He saw Alex Smith, and then he jumps in, and now he’s taking it to another level with this leg … He spent his offseason here. He didn’t go anywhere. Seven hours a day he was there, working,” the Chiefs’ head coach said.
Reid said Mahomes’ attitude towards his rehabilitation, recovery, and preparing for a new season has been good for teammates to see, as it will help them establish similar habits and attitudes as they go forth.
Before his injury last season, Mahomes threw for 3,587 passing yards, 22 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions, finishing with an 89.6 passer rating, which was below the league average. The star quarterback’s injury also ended the Chiefs’ playoff hopes as they were unable to qualify for the postseason.
With Mahomes back on the field, many believe that Kansas City could rediscover some of the previous success from their Super Bowl-winning seasons. Mahomes led them to three of those, with Kelce also a major part of the wins.
While some thought the Chiefs might be done after last season’s failure to reach the playoffs, Kelce indicated he would return for another season.
That, along with Mahomes being healthy again and the addition of star running back Kenneth Walker III, has many believing in this team again. If Mahomes can truly take it to “another level” in the coming season, it could be a return to the Chiefs’ previous form as a strong AFC and Super Bowl contender.