Chiefs Cautious on Mahomes' Injury Recovery Timeline

Head coach Andy Reid says Kansas City traded for QB Justin Fields as insurance in case Mahomes isn't ready for start of season.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 9:06pm

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The Kansas City Chiefs are taking a cautious approach with quarterback Patrick Mahomes' recovery from a torn ACL and LCL in his left knee suffered in December. Head coach Andy Reid said the team traded for veteran quarterback Justin Fields as insurance in case Mahomes is not able to return by the start of the 2026 season. Reid provided an update on Mahomes' progress, saying the two-time NFL MVP has been in the team's facility for seven hours a day, but there is still no definitive timeline for his return.

Why it matters

Mahomes is the centerpiece of the Chiefs' offense and their hopes of returning to the Super Bowl. His recovery timeline will be crucial in determining the team's plans and success for the upcoming season. The acquisition of Fields also signals the team's concern about Mahomes' availability and the need to have a capable backup plan in place.

The details

Mahomes suffered the knee injury on December 14 and underwent surgery to repair the torn ACL and LCL. While he expressed hope in January that he could return by Week 1, Reid said the team has not determined a timeline and is taking a cautious approach. To prepare for the possibility of Mahomes missing time, the Chiefs traded for quarterback Justin Fields, who has starting experience with the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Jets.

  • Mahomes suffered the knee injury on December 14, 2025.
  • Mahomes underwent surgery in December to repair the torn ACL and LCL.
  • In January 2026, Mahomes said he was hopeful to return by Week 1 based on information from his doctors.
  • At the NFL Annual League Meeting in late March 2026, Reid said the team traded for Justin Fields as insurance in case Mahomes is not ready for the start of the season.

The players

Patrick Mahomes

The Kansas City Chiefs' starting quarterback and two-time NFL MVP who is recovering from a torn ACL and LCL in his left knee.

Andy Reid

The head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs who provided an update on Mahomes' recovery timeline and the team's acquisition of Justin Fields.

Justin Fields

A veteran quarterback who was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs as insurance in case Mahomes is not ready for the start of the 2026 season.

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What they’re saying

“Well, we snuck out and got a good quarterback to back him up. So, if he doesn't, you know, if he's not able to make it for the beginning of the season, then we know we've got a legitimate backup there that can go win games for us.”

— Andy Reid, Head Coach, Kansas City Chiefs

“He's doing great. He spends a ton of time in the building. ... He's in there for seven hours a day. It's showing, the progress. Now, to tell you a timeline? I mean, I know what he's striving for. We'll just see where it goes from there.”

— Andy Reid, Head Coach, Kansas City Chiefs

“I want to be ready for Week 1. The doctors said I could, but I can't predict what happens throughout the process. That's the goal, to play Week 1 and have no restrictions. You want to be out there healthy and give us the best chance to win. I hope to do some things in OTAs and training camp and be able to do things there.”

— Patrick Mahomes

What’s next

The Chiefs will monitor Mahomes' progress during OTAs this spring to determine if he is on track to return by Week 1. In the meantime, Justin Fields will take reps with the first-team offense.

The takeaway

The Chiefs' cautious approach with Mahomes' recovery highlights the importance of having a capable backup plan in place, especially for a team with Super Bowl aspirations. The acquisition of Justin Fields gives them insurance in case Mahomes is not fully recovered by the start of the season, but the team remains hopeful their star quarterback will be ready to go.