Mahomes suffered a devastating ACL and LCL tear during a Week 15 clash with the Los Angeles Chargers last December. Fast forward three months, and the two-time MVP is practically living at the team facility. He recently dropped a video showing light throwing sessions, sparking optimism across the fanbase. Reid acknowledged the hard work but slammed the brakes on a guaranteed timeline.
I caught up with the head coach at the Annual League Meeting this weekend. The Arizona heat baked the pavement outside, but inside the resort, Reid played it cool. He recognizes the progress. He just won’t box himself into a corner.
“He’s doing great. He spends a ton of time in the building. He’s in there for seven hours a day. It’s showing, the progress. Now, to tell you a timeline? I mean, I know what he’s striving for. We’ll just see where it goes from there.”
— Andy Reid, Head Coach
Kansas City understands the stakes. Rushing Mahomes back could jeopardize the next five years of the franchise. That reality pushed general manager Brett Veach to snatch Fields from the Jets. Fields endured a brutal 2025 campaign in New York, compiling a 2-7 record and finishing four games with under 55 passing yards before hitting the bench. However, his 4-2 run with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024 proved he can win games in a functional system.
Kansas City offers the ultimate functional system. Reid flashed a grin when discussing the new addition, clearly confident in the front office’s contingency plan.
“Well, we snuck out and got a good quarterback to back him up. So, if he doesn’t, you know, if he’s not able to make it for the beginning of the season, then we know we’ve got a legitimate backup there that can go win games for us.”
— Andy Reid, Head Coach
Fields stepping into an offense featuring Travis Kelce and Xavier Worthy changes the AFC West dynamic. The Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders smell blood, hoping a Mahomes-less September opens the division door. But Fields brings a dual-threat dimension that opposing coordinators must respect. If Fields keeps the ship afloat for a month, Kansas City avoids an early-season hole. A fully healthy Mahomes returning in October instantly reinstates the Chiefs as Super Bowl favorites.
The medical staff will evaluate Mahomes weekly throughout OTAs and training camp. Expect the Chiefs to split first-team reps heavily, giving Fields the live action he needs to master Reid’s playbook.
