I just wanted to…’ Patrick Mahomes opens up on NFL return as Chiefs beat Broncos
· Yahoo Sports
Patrick Mahomes played his first NFL game of 2026, and addressed his return to the field after the win.
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The Kansas City Chiefs began their season with a dominant 31-10 win against the Denver Broncos on Monday night. The game marked Patrick Mahomes’ return from an ACL injury.
Mahomes added three touchdowns to his tally during the game, two passing and one rushing. He completed 15 of his 27 pass attempts, too.
Following the game, he was asked about how he felt making his return to the field, and the three-time Super Bowl champion was candid in his response.
Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty ImagesPatrick Mahomes says he ‘just wanted to play’, praises his teammates for helping him
Mahomes has become one of the faces of the NFL over the course of his highly successful career, and the quarterback’s absence in 2026 was notable.
There were some doubts about how he would return from a serious injury. However, all seems to be good on that front and for Mahomes, it was simply all about being able to play once again.
“I just wanted to play,” Mahomes said. “I’ve done so much rehab and so much work to put myself in this position. I just wanted to get out there and play. That’s what you do it for.
“My guys around me kind of helped me. Whenever I felt like I didn’t play my best football, we were still able to go out there and beat a really good football team pretty well.
“It’s because the guys around me stepped up and knew that they’re going to have to help me as I get back into the rhythm of things.”
There was some rust visible in Mahomes’ performance, but that didn’t affect the outcome. The prospect of a healthy Pat returning with a burning desire to play is a scary one for the rest of the NFL.
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