Mahomes Unplugged: No Limits, No Leash, No Fear for Chiefs' Monday Night Return

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The wait is almost over, and Patrick Mahomes is not tiptoeing back into the spotlight.

Four days before his return, the Chiefs quarterback said he expects zero limitations Monday night against the Denver Broncos. The 30-year-old has spent nine months rehabbing a torn ACL and LCL in his left knee, an injury he suffered Dec. 14. Since Kansas City opened training camp seven weeks ago, he has not missed a practice.

No Leash, No Excuses

Mahomes on Thursday: 'You've got to go out there and be yourself. I've built up the strength [in my knee] and built up all the days of rehab so that I can be myself. I'm going to keep myself out of harm's way, like I always will, not trying to take big hits. But I'm a competitor, I signed up for this and I'm going to go out there and play football. That's how I've always rolled, no matter what it is.'

Coach Andy Reid reiterated that Kansas City's offensive game plan will not look different from previous season openers with Mahomes. In camp, Mahomes has run plays that required him to roll out either direction or keep the ball on a speed option.

Reid: 'He's shown he can do [everything]. We won't hold anything back that we wouldn't normally. He's geared up and ready to go. It's just a matter of getting out there and playing.'

History in the Background

Mahomes opens the season the same way Tom Brady and Robert Griffin III once did. In 2009, Brady returned from a torn ACL in his left knee to start New England's home opener on Monday Night Football against Buffalo, a game the Patriots won. In 2013, Griffin, after a torn ACL and LCL in his right knee, struggled on opening night as Washington lost at home to Philadelphia.

But even after the most significant injury of his 10-year career, Mahomes said he will not be afraid to use his legs to help the Chiefs' offense succeed.

'That's what makes me who I am,' Mahomes said. 'I just love competing. Playing quarterback is one thing, but you've got to love competing to have success in this league. I'll try not to lay any blocks [in the open field], hopefully -- unless it's needed.'

The Camp Moment That Changed Everything

Pivotal 11-on-11 reps convinced Mahomes he is unlikely to fully change his playing style, which features plenty of improvisation to extend plays and find open receivers.

'I think it's going to be hard for me to not be myself when I step on the field,' he said. 'Even if you saw me in training camp, the moment stuff started to happen, I became a competitor.'

One example came in early August. In a two-minute, 11-on-11 drill, Mahomes saw his passing options covered on fourth down. He scrambled right, hoping to reach the first-down marker. But rookie defensive tackle Peter Woods closed Mahomes' angle to the sideline. Mahomes cut back and used his right hand to attempt an underarm lateral to running back Kenneth Walker III before falling to the turf. Cornerback Chris Roland-Wallace recovered the ball.

'I was like, Man, I shouldn't have done that,' Mahomes said, smiling. 'But looking back now, that was kind of the moment where I was like ... I can go out there and play.'

He also remembered taking a hit in practice: 'I had someone hit me in the back at one of the practices and every coach was freaking out. But I was like, I'm glad someone hit me and I didn't just crumble.'

Monday marks the end of Mahomes' rehab, a 274-day stretch from when he sustained his season-ending injury. He said he is proud to have accomplished everything he wanted in his rehab to perform alongside his teammates against the Broncos.

And Arrowhead Stadium? 'I'll have that at the maximum [support] here at Arrowhead [Stadium],' Mahomes said. 'The place will be rocking. I think that'll get me even more of a bump, more of an energy boost to go out there and be the best version of myself.'