Patrick Mahomes finally announces return date after heartbreaking Chiefs decision against Buccaneers

Patrick Mahomes has made one thing clear after being held out of Kansas City’s preseason clash with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers: he wants to play. The Chiefs quarterback believes his recovery is moving in the right direction and is now targeting a return before the regular season. While Andy Reid remains cautious, Mahomes’ confidence has given Kansas City fans another reason to believe their star could be ready when Week 1 arrives.Mahomes did not hide his frustration about watching from the sideline against Tampa Bay. After months of rehabilitation from the ACL and LCL injuries he suffered in his left knee last December, the quarterback clearly feels ready to take the next step.Speaking with CBS’ Trent Green during the broadcast, Mahomes explained that he wanted to play but had no say in the final decision.“I feel great, I’m getting more and more athletic,” Patrick Mahomes said in a game interview with CBS’ Trent Green, according to Sleeper Chiefs. “I really wanted to play but they would not let me. I’ll be trying to play next week, but at the end of the day it’s up to coach Reid.”That final line says plenty about the situation. Mahomes may feel ready, but the Chiefs are not going to gamble with their most important player before the games count.Kansas City has one preseason game remaining against the Seattle Seahawks on Friday. That could give Mahomes his final opportunity to take live snaps before the regular-season opener against the Denver Broncos on September 14.Mahomes has already returned to full football activity during training camp. He has taken part in 11-on-11 work, giving the Chiefs a much clearer picture of his movement and confidence than they had earlier in the summer.The quarterback's competitive nature was also obvious when he discussed the possibility of playing even late in a preseason game.“I’m always trying to play,” Mahomes said. “If he’d (Chiefs coach Andy Reid) put me in the game in this fourth quarter, I’d play right then.“At the end of the day it’s up to Coach Reid and I have to trust that he’s going to do right by me,” Mahomes said. “Like I said, I prepared like I was going to play this game. Obviously, I didn’t get to play, but I’ll prepare next week. We’ll see if I get to play then. If not, I’m going to be ready to go for that first game of the year, God willing.”That balance between eagerness and patience may be the most important part of Mahomes’ comeback. He wants the ball, but he also understands that the medical team and Reid have the final word.For now, Mahomes remains confident about September.“At the end of the day, all I can do is get better and better each day,” he said. “I’ve got to keep taking that step and keep taking that step over and over again. But as long as there’s no setbacks, I think I’m going to have the best possible chance to play out there, as long as the doctors say yes and Coach Reid says yes, but we’re trending in that direction.”The message is simple. Mahomes wants to return, the Chiefs believe he is progressing, and Week 1 remains the target.