The Kansas City Chiefs are projecting confidence when it comes to Patrick Mahomes and his recovery, but around the league, there is a growing sense that Kansas City is preparing for a very different start to the 2026 season.
Mahomes continues to rehab from the torn ACL and LCL he suffered late in 2025, and while updates from within the organization have been positive, there is still no definitive timeline for his return.
That uncertainty has sparked increasing speculation that the Chiefs could open the season without their franchise quarterback.
According to reporting from The Athletic, a league executive believes Kansas City‘s offseason decisions point toward a contingency plan already being put in place.
“I think it points to, ‘OK, let’s survive the early part of the season,'” the executive said. “I bet they just run the tread off Justin. It will be a lot of RPO.”
That “Justin” is Justin Fields, acquired this offseason to provide depth but now viewed as a potential starter if Mahomes is not ready.
Mahomes‘ injury, suffered against the Los Angeles Chargers in December, typically carries a recovery window that pushes right up against the start of a new season.
While the quarterback has resumed throwing and remains active in his rehabilitation, head coach Andy Reid has avoided setting expectations.
“If he’s good to go, he’ll go. If he’s not, then we’ll manage that,” Reid said at the NFL‘s annual meetings. “Everybody heals different.”
That measured tone reflects the reality facing Kansas City. The Chiefs are not just preparing for Mahomes‘ return, they are preparing for the possibility that it may not come immediately.
Fields offers a different dimension to the offense, one built on mobility and designed runs.
Insiders believe the Chiefs could lean heavily into run pass option concepts early in the season, particularly with the addition of Kenneth Walker III to the backfield.
Another league executive suggested that the shift is about more than short term survival.
“If Mahomes keeps going up against five and six man boxes, he can only do so much,” the executive said. “They need that run threat.”
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Balancing urgency with long term goals
For a team built around Mahomes‘ elite passing ability, any move toward a run first approach would represent a significant adjustment. But the Chiefs appear willing to make that trade off if it means protecting their quarterback over the course of the season.
The early weeks of the schedule could be shaped by that philosophy, with Fields asked to manage games rather than replicate Mahomes‘ production. The focus would shift toward controlling tempo, limiting risk, and keeping the team competitive until its star returns.
That approach carries its own risks. The AFC remains one of the league’s most competitive conferences, and a slow start could have lasting consequences. Yet internally, the priority appears clear: ensure Mahomes returns fully healthy rather than rushing him back.
