Patrick Mahomes' workout video sparks injury fears over alleged muscle atrophy

Patrick Mahomes is finally back on the practice field, but not everyone is feeling confident after watching his latest training session. The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback was medically cleared to return last week after spending the entire offseason recovering from a serious ACL and LCL injury suffered in Week 15 of the 2025 NFL season. While his return is an important step before the 2026 campaign, some fans believe the latest practice footage has raised fresh questions about his physical condition, especially the appearance of his left leg. Mahomes, however, has already made it clear that he expects the recovery process to continue even after he returns to competitive football.Patrick Mahomes’ practice video leaves Kansas City Chiefs fans worried about his recoveryMahomes took part in Chiefs training after receiving medical clearance last Wednesday, giving fans their first proper look at him back on the field. Soon after videos from practice surfaced online, many supporters began discussing what they noticed in his movement.Several fans pointed to his left leg, saying it looked noticeably thinner than the right one and questioning whether muscle loss was still affecting him after months of rehabilitation.“Anyone see some muscle atrophy or is it me,” one fan wrote.“That gait with the left leg doesn’t look too good. Definitely skinnier,” another added.“Limping and look how skinny that left leg is,” another worried fan commented.Despite those concerns, Mahomes is still aiming to be ready for the Chiefs’ regular-season opener against the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football. His return remains one of the biggest storylines for Kansas City as the team prepares for the new season.Patrick Mahomes says recovery is far from over as Tom Brady offered adviceMahomes has never suggested that everything is back to normal. Speaking to ESPN, the three-time Super Bowl champion admitted that the injury will likely stay with him throughout his career, even though he now feels comfortable leading the offense again.“The process isn’t over,” Mahomes said via ESPN. “It’ll be something I’ll probably be dealing with the next few years of my career and throughout the rest of my career.“But I feel comfortable now being able to go out there and run the offense the way the offense is supposed to be run.“This will be the hardest training camp that you can have, as far as preparing for the season.”During his recovery, Mahomes also sought advice from former New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who famously returned from his own ACL injury in 2009 and later won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award. He also spoke with former Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu and Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz, both of whom have experienced similar recoveries.While fans continue to study every clip from training camp, Mahomes appears focused on the bigger picture. His priority is building strength, getting through camp safely and being ready when Kansas City begins its season.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.