Patrick Mahomes, quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs, consulted with several players, including Tom Brady, during his rehabilitation 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 for training camp.
Mahomes stated that he spoke with Brady early in his recovery process due to Brady having a similar injury. Brady tore the ACL and MCL in his left knee during the 2008 season opener and later earned Comeback Player of the Year in 2009. Mahomes emphasized the importance of staying diligent throughout the lengthy rehabilitation.
Rehab and Return to Play
Mahomes also sought advice from former Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu and veteran tight end Zach Ertz. Mathieu experienced ACL and LCL tears in his left knee in 2013, followed by another ACL tear in 2015. Ertz tore his ACL a week before Mahomes’ injury, leading to a rehabilitation competition between the two.
Their conversations evolved into a competitive rehab, with Mahomes and Ertz sharing updates on their progress, including deadlift amounts and videos of their exercises. Mahomes noted that this competition helped maintain his drive during the solitary process of rehabilitation.
Despite being cleared for training camp, Mahomes views this as another checkpoint in his recovery. He aims to prove to coaches and doctors that he can perform at his previous level, or even better, and effectively lead the offense.
Mahomes indicated that changing directions feels much better than it did during the offseason program. He expects to manage the injury for several years but feels comfortable running the offense as intended.
Team Outlook and Future Identity
The question of how the Chiefs will perform if Mahomes is not at 100% health this season has been raised. Former NFL wide receiver Andrew Hawkins suggested Mahomes might need to adjust his playing style due to his age and recent injury, stating that the team cannot afford a “diet version” of Mahomes and expect to maintain their past success.
NFL insider Adam Schefter highlighted the Chiefs’ offseason moves to bolster the team around Mahomes, including signing Kenneth Walker III and bringing in Eric Bieniemy as offensive coordinator, to emphasize the ground game. However, former NFL general manager Mike Tannenbaum countered that a strong pass game is necessary for an elite run game, suggesting defenses could load the box if there isn’t a threat on the outside.
Former NFL offensive lineman Damien Woody believes the Chiefs might be forced to establish a stronger offensive identity this season due to a potential lack of explosiveness in the passing game. Woody considers the Chiefs to be the third-best team in the AFC West this season, citing changes on the defensive side of the ball as well.
Mahomes expressed his desire to be fully involved in practice, asking coaches to call the offense as they would in the regular season. He plans to prepare as if he will play in preseason games, though the final decision will rest with the coaches and medical staff. Mahomes is looking forward to being back on the practice field with his teammates.
He is excited to play football again after spending significant time rehabbing in Kansas City.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
