Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes cleared to fully participate in practice

[p]The three-time Super Bowl champion quarterback is [b]"extremely optimistic"[/b] about lining up for the first game of the regular season in September, said head coach Andy Reid.[/p][p][b]"Right now he's been cleared to go ahead and participate fully" [/b]in practice, Reid told reporters Friday at the team's Missouri pre-season training camp.[/p][embed guid="7effc7fc-dc9c-4e90-a3f5-ceb9890a2df4" url="https://x.com/Chiefs/status/2080770552533569542?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]The 30-year-old star, a two-time NFL Most Valuable Player, led the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/kansas-city-chiefs/vienoNr7/"]Chiefs[/a] to five Super Bowls in six seasons and three crowns.[/p][p]A disappointing season for the Chiefs last year was capped in December when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mahomes-patrick/W2xC0Ev4/"]Mahomes[/a] tore left knee ligaments, requiring surgery for the first major injury in his nine-year NFL career.[/p][p]Mahomes on Friday vowed to prove to [b]"everybody that I'm the same quarterback I was before, if not better."[/b][/p][p]The NFL superstar said his rehab had left him [b]"stronger than I've ever felt,"[/b] and was turning his attention to [b]"that quarterback stuff"[/b] like moving and reacting quickly in the pocket.[/p][p]Admitting he had played poorly in the latter stages of last season, Mahomes expressed hope that the injury had ultimately [b]"helped me kind of focus on those little things as I get back to being who I am."[/b][/p][embed guid="a50841e0-6f77-42f4-9d50-ef192c7d0067" url="https://x.com/espn/status/2080760246176252135?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Last month, the Chiefs reworked Mahomes's contract to extend his tenure through 2033, with the revamped deal worth a historic reported total of $504.75 million.[/p][p]The $64 million annual average value of the deal, beginning in 2027, is an NFL record.[/p][p]The Chiefs kick off their 2026 campaign on September 14 against the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/denver-broncos/l22ZmPbl/"]Denver Broncos[/a], with Mahomes determined to feature.[/p][p][b]"I'm optimistic, and I know he is extremely optimistic," [/b]said Reid.[/p]