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Mahomes Throws in Brace at OTAs as Chiefs Keep Week 1 Return Conditional

Limited on-field reps show measurable rehab progress that will be decided by upcoming medical checkpoints.

Overview

  • Reporters saw Patrick Mahomes at Chiefs OTAs participating in individual work and 7-on-7 drills while wearing a heavy brace on his left knee, a practice first publicly observed on May 28.
  • Mahomes completed on-field throws, including a touchdown to Xavier Worthy, but he has not been cleared by surgeon Dr. Dan Cooper or the Chiefs’ training staff for full-team drills, cutting, or contact.
  • Head coach Andy Reid described the sessions as controlled rehab to keep Mahomes' timing with receivers while protecting his knee from higher-risk activity.
  • The Chiefs continue to treat a Week 1 start on Sept. 14 as the goal but say readiness is conditional and will be determined through week-to-week checkpoints at voluntary OTAs, the June 9–11 mandatory minicamp, and training camp.
  • Kansas City has built short-term contingencies—most notably acquiring Justin Fields—to cover starts or expanded snaps if Mahomes is not medically cleared, and the team is managing roster options to preserve flexibility.