Mahomes on Track to Start Week 1 Opener vs. Broncos

Patrick Mahomes appears on track to start for the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 1 against the Denver Broncos.

The two-time MVP has said since undergoing surgery in December to repair torn ligaments in his left knee that his goal was to be ready when the season began. Doctors initially cautioned that Mahomes might not be ready until October, but he progressed faster than expected during training camp, working with the first team throughout.

Mahomes did not play in any preseason games, but coach Andy Reid said that was by design. "He's going to keep practicing just like he's been doing," Reid said Wednesday, after the team's first practice following roster cuts. "These are more like practice here, a lot of one-versus-one play these next couple of days. That's a good thing."

The Chiefs practice again Thursday before a long weekend, then resume Monday, heading into a game-week schedule ahead of a Monday night matchup with Denver, one of the favorites to win the AFC West.

One open question is whether skipping every preseason game will affect Mahomes' performance. The only other time he went a full preseason without playing was during the pandemic, when exhibition games were canceled league-wide.

Wide receiver Xavier Worthy, who returned to Kansas City early this summer to train with Mahomes, said their timing work has him confident. "I feel like when it's time to play, we'll all be ready," Worthy said. He added, "His will and want-to is beyond anything I've ever seen. He kind of leads the team in that way."

Protection up front remains uncertain. Left tackle Josh Simmons stayed out of practice Wednesday with a back injury, forcing the offensive line to shuffle, with undrafted rookie Kahlil Benson and Jaylon Moore both getting first-team reps. Guard Trey Smith has also been dealing with a hip injury. The Chiefs recently traded for depth, sending a conditional sixth-round pick to Baltimore for Diego Pounds and a seventh-round pick to the Giants for Joshua Ezeudu.

"It's just a matter of them getting adjusted to everything, from the snap count to the plays to the calls to the pass protection," Reid said of the new linemen.