The Kansas City Chiefs enter the 2026 NFL season with some uncertainty due to Patrick Mahomes' injury.
After a disappointing 6-11 season and Mahomes' season-ending injury in December, several NFL executives have questioned whether Kansas City still belongs among the AFC's elite. FOX Sports analyst Henry McKenna has now added to that skepticism, arguing that Mahomes may not be able to carry a roster by himself to contend for a Super Bowl.
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McKenna's comments came after a debate on First Things First, where he pushed back against Nick Wright's claim that the team isn't ready to win the Super Bowl this year.
"The Chiefs roster isn't even average. Not after this offseason. They're short on talent," McKenna said.
"I don't see Patrick Mahomes, with the ACL recovery, carrying his team like he normally does. And we saw Andy Reid struggle to make something from nothing last year."
McKenna's criticism mirrors concerns raised by other NFL executives surveyed by The Athletic.
Six executives ranked Kansas City sixth in the AFC heading into the season, with Mahomes' health, offensive tackle uncertainty, and a major turnover in the secondary cited as the biggest reasons for concern.
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One executive questioned whether Mahomes' trademark mobility will return after reconstructive knee surgery.
"They need tackles, and we don't know if Mahomes can move. That's one team that could really go either way."
Another executive was equally skeptical about Kansas City replacing key defensive backs who left during the offseason.
"Mahomes coming off the knee, they lose the corners in the offseason… I'm a little skeptical how they are going to replace those corners."
These concerns have reshaped expectations around the franchise.
Patrick Mahomes Still Appears on Track for Week 1
Despite the growing skepticism, the latest reports surrounding Mahomes have been optimistic.
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Speaking on the "The Rich Eisen Show," NFL insider Tom Pelissero said "all signs are pointing toward" Mahomes starting the Chiefs' season opener against the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football. Mahomes has participated fully in training camp after being medically cleared in July and has taken nearly every first-team rep throughout camp.
"If you look at the workload he had in camp, he's been taking essentially all the first team reps….I believe that they'll be careful with some things, maybe in terms of exposing him in certain areas. But if he's on the field, he's out there not because they think he's 85 percent. No, he's all the way back, even if there's some things in terms of rust and maybe some calls they won't make while he gets his sea legs under him."
Pelissero emphasized that Kansas City would not put Mahomes on the field unless they believed he was fully ready.
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The Chiefs also chose not to play Mahomes during the preseason, opting instead to manage his workload ahead of the regular season.
Mahomes is expected to be healthy enough to start Week 1, but whether he can return to the level that made the Chiefs a dangerous contender remains to be seen.
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