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Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes reacts to exciting news in Kansas City.

The Kansas City Chiefs‘ offseason has been an optimistic affair thus far, and head coach Andy Reid continued that trend with his latest update on injured star quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

While speaking with ESPN’s “The Rich Eisen Show” on Friday, May 15, Reid made perhaps his most telling comments yet on Mahomes’ status by publicly verbalizing the QB could be ready to roll come Week 1 in early September.

“He’s getting better every day. He’s not taking any setbacks, and that’s what you look for. [His trainer] is pushing him … and he wants more,” Reid said. “I would tell you he’s doing very well, but it’s a day-to-day thing. Maybe you have a chance to see him the first game.”

Kansas City hosts the AFC West Division champion Denver Broncos on September 14 to open the year.

Changes Coming to Kansas City Offense Next Season

GettyKansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

Mahomes’ return to the offense for the season opener will be significant on several levels, the first of which is that the two-time MVP and three-time champion will be the starter rather than Justin Fields.

Fields is a luxury as a backup, having started 53 of 59 games played across the first five years of his NFL career, and could have a minor role has a dual-threat option on short-yardage downs even when Mahomes is back fully healthy. That said, Fields is 16-37 as QB1 and has never played a regular-season snap in Reid’s system.

Kansas City is likely to make some significant changes to its offensive scheme heading into 2026, as evidenced by the major investment the franchise made in Super Bowl MVP running back Kenneth Walker III at the beginning of free agency in March.

The Chiefs probably need to worry less about Mahomes working his way up to speed in an altered attack than just about any other team and any other QB in the league. But if he is ready to start Week 1, that means first-teams reps for multiple weeks and perhaps even some preseason game action. That would bode well for Kansas City’s chances to hit the ground running when the campaign begins.

Chiefs Have Questions Involving Pass-Catching Corps

GettyTight end Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Reid is also liable to require some patented Mahomes magic given that while the offensive line is solid and the offensive backfield has improved, the corps of pass-catchers has changed little.

There are some new names and faces, but none of them are high-profile rookies or big-time offseason acquisitions. Tight end Travis Kelce is back for a 14th season, and while he was a Pro Bowler in 2025, the Chiefs should probably expect less from him, not more, this time around.

Kansas City still has time, and viable options, to add a veteran wideout to a group headlined by Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy, which has some explosive potential if Rice can stay healthy/out of trouble and Worthy can get right after injury issues derailed his 2025 campaign.

Stefon Diggs and Tyreek Hill are both still free agents and could offer different things to the Chiefs at reasonable annual average salaries.