The Kansas City Chiefs are clearly expecting Patrick Mahomes to be ready for Week 1 of the NFL season. Watching Mahomes move in OTAs and seeing the quarterback’s commitment to getting back in the lineup, there simply is no question that this is the expectation. At the same time that Mahomes was back on the field and making headlines, the Green Bay Packers were dealing with a very different situation with Micah Parsons, who suffered an ACL tear the exact same week as Mahomes.

Only hours apart, both players suffered a similar season-ending injury, and yet Parsons is nowhere close to being on the field. Green Bay utilized OTAs to make it clear they are protecting Parsons from himself, preventing the pass rusher from taking the field for at least the first month of the season. Green Bay wants the star to be at least nine months removed from the injury, giving him the most possible time to heal.

This is a player three years younger than Mahomes being held out at least until the first week of October, even when his franchise has a questionable pass-rushing situation. Yet again, it’s a reason to celebrate the feat that Mahomes is accomplishing and points to what a complete alien the quarterback is when it comes to finding ways to win on and off the field.

Chiefs fans continue to appreciate Patrick Mahomes’ return after another injury update

It should be noted that Parsons is absorbing contact on every snap he plays, while Mahomes hopes to be protected in the early parts of the season. Still, it’s incredibly impressive that the older quarterback has made such a quick return and speaks to a relentless dedication to his craft and doing whatever it takes to get on the field sooner.

Parsons and Mahomes will be somewhat linked in the 2026 season due to both coming off a similar injury suffered on the exact same day. Comparisons are understandable, even with the drastically different workloads and expectations placed upon each player. For the Chiefs, this simply serves as a reminder of the gift they have been handed and how much work Mahomes has put in to get back on the field.

For Parsons, it does make sense for the Packers to be cautious and ease him back into the 2026 season. This is a luxury the Chiefs cannot afford with the season likely being sunk in the first month, given how important Mahomes is to KC. No question, it provides yet another opportunity to appreciate an impressive offseason accomplishment.