What happened: Patrick Mahomes underwent surgery in December to repair the ACL and LCL in his left knee. Rehabilitation began less than 24 hours later, with Mahomes returning to Kansas City later that week.
Why it matters: The injury ended his 2025 season three weeks before the schedule closed. The season finished without a playoff berth, the first such result since 2014.
By the numbers: Golden was 11 months old when Mahomes set the goal; his recovery has spanned nine months.
What to watch: Mahomes’ mobility and workload in the opener will provide the repaired knee’s first competitive test.