Patrick Mahomes Grateful for Early Bye Week Amid Chiefs' Undefeated Start

Patrick Mahomes, the star quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs, expressed his gratitude for the early Week 5 bye during the NFL team's undefeated start. The Kansas City Chiefs and Carolina Panthers were the first teams to receive a bye in Week 5 of the 2026 season. Mahomes explained that the respite allowed his torn ACL to rest and heal.

He mentioned feeling great throughout the season but it gave him another week to reset and evaluate his progress. Despite taking some hits from his young son, Bronze, Mahomes wasn't resting the entire week and is ready for his upcoming match. The two-time MVP has been performing exceptionally, with 1,037 passing yards, nine touchdowns, and two interceptions this season.

The Chiefs have a tough road ahead, with games against Seattle Seahawks, Denver Broncos, Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Rams, and Cincinnati Bengals followed by home games against New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers. An extra week of preparation might have been beneficial before these challenging matchups, but the team took advantage of the bye to recharge, setting them up for their AFC West showdown against the 0-5 Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.