Chiefs head coach Andy Reid didn’t rule out the possibility of quarterback Patrick Mahomes returning Week 1 after he suffered a torn ACL and LCL in December.
During a Friday appearance on “The Rich Eisen Show,” Reid gave an update on Mahomes after hearing rumors that his star quarterback is “ahead of schedule” in his rehab.
“I’m not Confucius at all, but I can tell you that… I hear people say ‘he’s ahead of schedule,’” Reid said. “I’m not sure who makes the schedule. So, everybody’s different. He’s spent a ton of time here.
“He’s getting better everyday. He’s not taking any setbacks and that’s what you look for. You’re making sure that as you push him, which Julie, our trainer, is doing … and he wants more.
“So I would tell you he’s doing very well, but it’s a day-to-day thing. As long as he he keeps making the progress forward maybe we’ll have a chance at seeing him the first game [of the season]. But again, we’ll play that as we go.”
Eisen mentioned the notion that the NFL schedule-makers “might have gotten some sort of indication” that Mahomes will be back for Week 1 since the Chiefs will open the season at home against the defending AFC West champion Broncos.
“Deep down [NFL commissioner] Roger Goodell wanted to be a physical therapist, so he said, ‘Listen two of the top quarterbacks in the NFL need some motivation to get themselves back on the football field, so let’s put them against each other and see what happens,’” Reid joked.
“We wouldn’t want it any other way, and I don’t think Denver would have it any other way. This is a great thing. If the guys can there, they’re gonna be there. Both of them are great competitors and we’ll see where it all goes.
“We’re obviously not just going to throw him out there to throw him out there. I know his competitive nature and he’s going to want to play, but we’re going to need to evaluate that going forward.”
Reid added that Mahomes has been spending seven hours per day rehabbing at the Chiefs’ facility.
Broncos third-year quarterback Bo Nix is coming off a fractured ankle he suffered in an overtime win over the Bills in the AFC divisional round.
Mahomes underwent surgery after he tore his ACL and LCL in a loss to the Chargers with two minutes remaining in the Week 15 game on Dec. 14.
Gardner Minshew replaced Mahomes and tossed an interception to seal the loss — which officially eliminated the Chiefs (6-10) from playoff contention for the first time in Mahomes’ tenure in Kansas City.
Mahomes has spent the offseason attacking his rehab and spending time with his family.
He and his wife Brittany attended an event for his 15 and the Mahomes foundation and on Thursday night.
Before that, the couple spent Mother’s Day at the KC Current-Chicago Stars game on Sunday.
The Mahomes, who are co-owners of the NWSL’s Current, and their kids, Sterling Skye Mahomes, 5, Patrick “Bronze” Lavon III, 3, and Golden Ray, 1, watched KC’s 3-0 victory against Chicago from a suite at CPKC Stadium.
