Patrick Mahomes is expected to start the Kansas City Chiefs’ season opener against the Denver Broncos, but an NFL analyst has warned that the biggest challenge may not be his fitness. It could be whether Mahomes can fully trust his knee again.
Mahomes suffered torn ACL and LCL in his left knee during the Chiefs’ Week 15 defeat to the Los Angeles Chargers last December, ending Kansas City’s playoff hopes. He underwent surgery soon after and has spent the offseason working towards a Week 1 return.
The quarterback was kept out of Kansas City’s first two pre-season games as a precaution, but he has since returned to full football activities and has not missed a training camp practice.
Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty ImagesPatrick Mahomes faces biggest test when defenders close inSpeaking on First Things First, NFL analyst Geoff Schwartz identified confidence as the biggest concern for Mahomes following such a serious injury.
‘Just trust and confidence, right? When you’re coming back from injury, that’s the toughest part as a player is trusting your body to do the same things you did previously,’ Schwartz said.
Schwartz explained that the challenge becomes even greater once Mahomes has defenders around his legs in a competitive game.
‘You have to make that first throw when someone’s around his legs, how does he do that with confidence, right? How do you not have a flashback to the bad things that happen?’ he added.
Mahomes, however, has remained confident in his recovery and believes he has followed the timeline set out after his surgery.
‘It’s nine months. It’s the amount of time [doctors] said from the beginning, that if I did everything the right way, I would be ready to play Week 1,’ Mahomes said.
Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty ImagesThe Chiefs have also made changes that could help ease the pressure on their star quarterback.
Schwartz pointed to the arrival of running back Kenneth Walker and Kansas City’s increased use of under-centre formations and play-action as signs the team wants to establish a stronger running game around Mahomes.
That could prove important early in the season. If Kansas City’s revamped run game and offensive line can keep Mahomes protected, he should have a better chance of rebuilding that confidence when the hits start coming.
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