Patrick Mahomes' golf swing offers hope for Week 1 return

Jacob Camenker, USA TODAYSun, May 17, 2026 at 12:02 PM UTC

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Patrick Mahomes' golf swing offers hope for Week 1 return

Patrick Mahomes gave Kansas City Chiefs fans yet another reason for optimism about his recovery from a torn ACL and LCL he suffered in December.

On May 15, Mahomes posted a video of himself at his annual golf tournament in support of his non-profit, the "15 and the Mahomies Foundation."

The video showcased Mahomes hitting a golf ball off a tee with a driver. The 30-year-old quarterback was able to transition his weight cleanly from his right leg to his injured left leg – which was wrapped in a protective sleeve – and make clean contact with the ball.

It wasn't exactly clear how far Mahomes launched the shot, but he sent the tee flying into the air as part of his stroke.

Mahomes' action on the golf course comes five months after he had surgery to repair his injured knee and amid reports that he is ahead of schedule in his recovery. The quarterback has posted videos of himself throwing a football on social media, which have inspired confidence about him being ready to play in Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season.

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At Chiefs rookie minicamp, Andy Reid expressed optimism about Mahomes participating in the team's OTAs. More recently, the 68-year-old coach told NFL Media's "The Insiders" that the two-time NFL MVP was "doing great right now" and "hasn't missed a day" of his rehab schedule.

Even so, Reid wouldn't guarantee Mahomes would be ready for Week 1. He also cautioned against holding the veteran signal-caller to a firm schedule in his recovery.

"Everybody's different, right? So let's just take it day-by-day," Reid said of Mahomes during his May 14 appearance on "The Insiders."

Still, Chiefs fans will likely view Mahomes' swing as a positive sign about his chances of returning for Kansas City's Week 1 "Monday Night Football" game against the Denver Broncos. The game is set for Sept. 14, almost exactly nine months after the quarterback suffered his initial injury.

So, while the most important golf swings of the weekend will likely come from the 2026 PGA Championship – which is playing out at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania – the importance of Mahomes showing off his stroke amid his recovery cannot be understated.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Patrick Mahomes' golf swing shows ACL recovery progress

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