Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes consulted with several players, including Tom Brady, during his recovery from a torn ACL and LCL in his left knee. Mahomes sustained the injury in a December 14 game and underwent surgery the following day. Seven months later, he has been cleared to participate in training camp.
Mahomes shared that he spoke with players who had experienced similar rehabilitation processes. He specifically mentioned consulting with Brady early in his recovery, noting that Brady had a very similar injury. Brady tore the ACL and MCL in his left knee during the 2008 season opener and later earned the Comeback Player of the Year award in 2009.
Mahomes emphasized the importance of staying diligent throughout the recovery. He recalled the difficulty of watching his team play while he was injured, but maintained his focus on rehabilitation to reach the point of being cleared for practice. His current goal is to be cleared to play in the first week of the regular season.
Rehab and Competition
In addition to Brady, Mahomes also spoke with former Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu and veteran tight end Zach Ertz. Mathieu had torn the ACL and LCL in his left knee in 2013 and experienced another ACL tear in 2015. Ertz’s ACL injury occurred just a week before Mahomes’s.
Mahomes’s conversations with Ertz evolved into a form of rehabilitation competition. They would compare their progress, sharing details about their deadlift weights and sending each other videos of their exercises. Mahomes described how Ertz would send clips of jumping and acceleration drills, and he would respond with videos of his own cutting movements the following week.
This competitive aspect helped Mahomes stay motivated during what he described as a long and sometimes isolating process. He noted that having someone else to compete with pushed his competitive drive, providing an external challenge beyond competing solely against himself.
Mahomes expressed his excitement to return to the field, stating he is glad to be out of the training room and back with his teammates. He mentioned that he had been seeing cinderblock walls while rehabbing in Kansas City and is looking forward to being on the practice field with his team.
Looking Ahead to the Season
Mahomes has consistently stated his aim to be ready for the start of the regular season. He recently confirmed that he was medically cleared for full participation in training camp, having received the news two days prior to a Friday press conference. Despite this clearance, he views it as another checkpoint in an ongoing process.
He stressed that being cleared for practice does not mean the rehabilitation is complete. Mahomes believes he must continue to work, get better, and prove to coaches and doctors that he is the same, if not a better, quarterback than he was before his injury. He also aims to demonstrate he can perform effectively and win games.
Mahomes noted significant improvement in his ability to change directions compared to when he last spoke to the media during the offseason program. He emphasized that this improvement was crucial in proving his readiness to the medical staff and coaching team. He acknowledged that the recovery process is extensive and will likely be a factor throughout his career, requiring continuous attention.
Both Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid have indicated a day-by-day approach to his practice schedule, given the nature of his injury. However, Mahomes is eager to be fully involved in the team’s preparations, wanting the offense to be called in practice as it would be during the regular season. He believes this will best prepare him, and he is prepared to communicate if he needs to scale back his participation.
As a competitor, Mahomes intends to test his limits during training camp to assess his readiness for the regular season. He believes this rigorous approach in camp will make the regular season feel somewhat easier. While Mahomes typically plays in preseason games, this year’s participation remains uncertain due to his knee. He stated that the decision will be made by the coaches and doctors, but he will prepare as if he will play, taking any warm-ups as seriously as a game.
The Chiefs‘ potential performance this season without a fully healthy Mahomes has been a topic of discussion. Some analysts question if the team can succeed if Mahomes is not at 100% health, suggesting he may need to adjust his playing style. Concerns have been raised about the team’s offensive explosiveness in the passing game, leading to speculation that the Chiefs may need to rely more on their ground game. The team’s offseason moves, including signing Kenneth Walker III and bringing in Eric Bieniemy as offensive coordinator, are seen by some as efforts to strengthen the team around Mahomes. One analyst suggested the Chiefs might be the third-best team in the AFC West this season.
Mahomes is set to join the rookies for practice this week.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
Mason Reed
Sports reporter covering football, basketball and international competitions.