NFL rules could block Kansas City Chiefs star QB Patrick Mahomes from early offseason injury return, even if he’s ahead of schedule
The NFL’s rules regarding the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) List may prevent Patrick Mahomes from taking the field during the Kansas City Chiefs’ upcoming Organized Team Activities (OTAs).
The Kansas City Chiefs are rightfully taking an abundance of caution when it comes to Patrick Mahomes’ ACL/LCL injury recovery. He’s already resumed throwing, but could he soon return to the practice field in some capacity for Kansas City?
Voluntary Organized Team Activities (OTAs) for the Chiefs are just around the corner at the end of May. Could Mahomes be back on the field for those practice sessions? If he had it his way, he would be. Andy Reid isn’t saying in so many words that Mahomes will be available to participate. He’s not ruling it out either. The uncertainty doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with his health or recovery timeline. Rather, it’s about the NFL’s roster rules and maintaining roster flexibility as he works his way back from the injury.
NFL rules might prevent Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes from participating during OTAs and mandatory minicamp
While Reid insists that Mahomes will be in a good position to participate in Chiefs OTAs in some capacity, the rules surrounding the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list are something the team wants to be cognizant of.
“We’ve got to see on that,” Reid said. “He (Patrick Mahomes) is in a good position to be able to do some things. There’s some rules and regulations that go with that, (Kansas City Sports Network’s) Herbie (Teope). So, we just have to make sure we’re on top of that part, but if he can do some things. Phase II, remember, is there’s no contact, no offense versus defense. It’s Phase III (OTAs and mandatory minicamp) that you get into that, and once you start the clock, the clock has got to be rolling. So, you just have to evaluate what you want to do there. He’s in a position where he can do everything, I think.”
What is the NFL’s Physically Unable to Perform List?
The Active/PUP list is reserved for players who are unable to participate in training camp practices due to an injury sustained during football activities. Players can be activated at any point during camp after being placed on this list. However, once a player has practiced or participated in a game, they cannot be placed back on the list.
The Reserve/PUP list includes players who remain on the Active/PUP list during roster cuts. Those players are required to sit out for at least the first four weeks of the season before they can start their practice window and be activated to the 53-man roster.
Reid confirmed that he was specifically talking about having the ability to put Mahomes on the PUP list. If he were to begin participating in the offseason workout program, the Chiefs would lose the ability to put them on the Active/PUP list. As Coach Reid says, it starts the clock.
The Chiefs have a decision to make on Patrick Mahomes come OTAs
The team ultimately has to decide whether Patrick Mahomes can do enough during OTAs and whether it’s worth starting that clock.
If they decide that he’s not able to do enough, they can put him on Active/PUP at the start of training camp. If his injury rehab and recovery require more time, they could then place Mahomes on the Reserve/PUP list during 53-man roster cuts. At that point, he’d be required to miss the first four weeks of the 2026 NFL season. Having that flexibility is very important with a player like Mahomes.
At the end of the day, it’ll come down to Rick Burkholder’s staff and their evaluation of Mahomes’ health. He’s doing everything he can to get back on the field as quickly as possible, but with an injury of this sort, you can’t throw caution to the wind. You also don’t want to lose the roster flexibility the league gives you for padless practices. Those ultimately aren’t very valuable for a veteran like Mahomes.
“Yeah, I know he’s (Patrick Mahomes) doing a lot of stuff right now,” Reid said. “That’s what I can give you, (KC Star columnist) Vahe (Gregorian). He is throwing the ball, and he does it on his own, so he’s not getting in any trouble here (laughter).”