Mahomes cleared for full Chiefs camp, feels 'amazing'
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- Mahomes was cleared Wednesday by the Chiefs' medical staff and Dr. Dan Cooper — the Dallas Cowboys' head team physician who performed the surgery — to fully participate in camp after repairing a torn ACL and LCL in his left knee suffered in December.
- Mahomes said he feels 'amazing' and 'stronger than I've ever felt,' but also acknowledged that 'the process isn't over' and that he'll 'probably be dealing with' the knee 'the next few years of my career.'
- Coach Andy Reid said he doesn't plan to limit Mahomes from his usual repetitions, with the quarterback expected to lead the first-team offense during 11-on-11 periods alongside RB Kenneth Walker III, TE Travis Kelce, and WRs Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, and Tyquan Thornton — his first practice with that group since the December injury.
- Mahomes plans to start the Chiefs' Sept. 14 Monday Night Football home opener against the Denver Broncos, and the team must still decide whether to play him in a preseason game; in his nine-year career he has never missed the entire preseason.
- Mahomes said he drew advice and encouragement from Tom Brady and Tyrann Mathieu — both of whom returned to All-Pro form after tearing their ACLs — and intends to sharpen pocket movement and release his throws quicker than at times last season.
Why it matters: Reid declining to limit Mahomes's reps and slotting him with the first-team offense alongside his top skill players signals the Chiefs are treating him as the Week 1 starter, not a managed return — tying every August practice to the Sept. 14 Denver opener, with the only open question being whether he takes a preseason snap.
