Travis Kelce has lauded his Kansas City Chiefs teammate and close friend Patrick Mahomes for his exceptional recovery from a significant knee injury, enabling him to start in the upcoming NFL season opener.
Mahomes is slated to start against the Denver Broncos on Monday night, nearly nine months after sustaining tears to his ACL and LCL in a game against the Los Angeles Chargers in December. Chiefs coach Andy Reid confirmed the quarterback's availability.
"I've seen a guy do anything possible to be ready for Week 1," Kelce stated on the podcast "New Heights." "What he's done to get to this point is second to none. You saw that switch flip when he had the surgery, of how he was going to be determined to get healthy for the season."
Kelce expressed his and the team's excitement for Mahomes' return. "We're excited that he's going to be out there rocking with us on Week 1," he said. "In terms of his ability to move around, he's a competitor, man. And he only knows one way to play the game - when that ball snaps I just expect to see Patty Mahomes playing football."
Mahomes himself had identified returning for the season opener against the Chiefs' AFC West rivals at Arrowhead as his primary objective at the beginning of training camp. He did not participate in any preseason games, adhering to a plan developed by the coaching staff and medical team.
Despite initial medical advice suggesting a potential return in October, Mahomes surpassed expectations during his rehabilitation process, actively participating with the first-team offense throughout training camp.
Mahomes's readiness provides a substantial boost for the Chiefs, who are aiming to return to the playoffs after finishing last season with a 6-11 record and missing the postseason entirely. The team has made several roster adjustments in the offseason, including signing running back Kenneth Walker III and addressing defensive needs through the draft.
Kelce also recently signed a new three-year contract worth $54 million. The team's strategy for the upcoming season relies on the development of wide receivers Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, and Tyquan Thornton, while the defense faces questions in the secondary following departures in free agency and trades.