As the NFL prepares to release its highly anticipated schedule in the coming weeks, a major question looms over the league's marquee matchups: what to do with Patrick Mahomes?
The superstar quarterback suffered a torn ACL and LCL on December 14, 2025, and has been pushing through aggressive rehab ever since. While Fox's Jay Glazer reported in March that Mahomes would be back "by far" before Week 1, and ESPN noted last week that he's on track for the Chiefs' first OTAs this month, there's a significant gap between "ready for May practices" and "ready for a primetime showdown in September."
Speaking on the It's Always Game Day in Buffalo podcast before the NFL Draft, Mike North highlighted the league's dilemma. The NFL wants Mahomes in the spotlight, but can't fully commit its biggest games to a quarterback whose health remains uncertain.
"He's one of the biggest stars in the league, and I don't think any of us would feel great if we had him in prime time early in the season and he missed the first four weeks," North explained. "That being said, that's a good football team, that's a good coach over there, and they went and signed a veteran starting quarterback."
That veteran is Justin Fields, acquired from the Jets in March for just a 2027 sixth-round pick. While Fields has shown flashes, Andy Reid remains one of the game's elite coaches, and Kansas City's roster is still among the NFL's best. Yet there's an undeniable difference between Chiefs-Bills with Mahomes and without him—and the league knows it.
"Would the league want to use the big Chiefs-Bills game in Week 1? That's a fair question," North added. "I'm not sure it does 30 or 35 million viewers in Week 1 without Patrick Mahomes. So certainly some thought to maximizing that quarterback and this rivalry."
For now, the NFL must weigh star power against risk, crafting a schedule that keeps fans excited while preparing for any scenario. Whether Mahomes is under center or not, one thing is clear: the Chiefs remain a team to watch, and the league will have to balance its biggest games with a dose of cautious planning.