Get an exclusive early look at the Kansas City Chiefs chapter from Pro Football Doc’s upcoming 2026 NFL Preview, featuring key injury storylines, player health concerns and fantasy football angles.
With Pro Football Doc’s 2026 NFL Injury Preview set to officially release later this month, we are giving readers an exclusive early look inside one of the most important team chapters: the Kansas City Chiefs.
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The full guide will break down injury outlooks, player health trends, team risk factors and the medical storylines that matter most for fantasy football, betting and NFL analysis. As the 2026 season approaches, Kansas City remains one of the league’s most closely watched teams, making its injury profile a must-read for anyone trying to get ahead before training camp.
This Chiefs preview offers a sample of what readers can expect from the full release: expert medical analysis from Pro Football Doc, clear injury context and actionable insight you will not find in a standard depth chart or fantasy football ranking.
Patrick Mahomes QB - ACL & LCL - SIC Score 72
Mahomes continues to make steady progress in his recovery from the torn ACL and LCL in his left knee that he suffered on December 14, 2025, against the Chargers and later required surgery to repair.
During mandatory minicamp, Mahomes participated in individual drills, 7-on-7 work, and some running and cutting exercises while wearing a large knee brace, but he did not take part in full 11-on-11 team periods as a precaution. The Chiefs have reported no setbacks in his rehab.
Pro Football Doc expects the Chiefs to take a cautious approach as Mahomes won't be 100% to start season given his LCL and ACL tear (we see the residual problems from Rashee Rice LCL see below).
Some teams might be tempted to play their starting QB if he can be effective. Given the KC super bowl or bust mentality and that fact that they go as their superstar goes, we expect Chiefs to take a cautions approach for the start of the season. It is more important to avoid setback or other injury early. As long as Mahomes is there for the bulk of the season and at 100% for playoffs, that is the key.
Mahomes heads into the season with an SIC Health Score rating of 72.
Kenneth Walker - RB - New signing - SIC Score 94
Walker enters the 2026 season healthy after successfully making it through the entire 2025 campaign without any significant injuries, a notable development after dealing with multiple lower-body and abdominal issues earlier in his career.
The veteran running back had no reported limitations during the offseason program and was a full participant as he acclimated to his new team following his offseason arrival in Kansas City.
Barring an unexpected setback, Walker is expected to be a full participant at training camp and is positioned to play a significant role in the Chiefs' backfield. His ability to stay healthy last season is an encouraging sign as Kansas City looks to maximize his explosiveness in 2026.
Xavier Worthy -WR - Shoulder - SIC Score 94
Worthy is in the final stages of his recovery from a torn labrum in his shoulder, an injury he suffered in Week 1 of last season and played through for most of the year along with an ankle issue before undergoing surgery in January.
As a precaution, the Chiefs kept him in a non-contact jersey during OTAs and mandatory minicamp, though he still participated extensively in individual drills, 7-on-7 work, and some team periods. Head coach Andy Reid praised Worthy's strength, route-running, and overall performance during the offseason program.
Importantly, there have been no setbacks, and Worthy is expected to be fully cleared for training camp in late July. The second-year receiver appears on track for a healthy 2026 season and believes last year was "not a true indication" of his potential.
Rashee Rice - WR - Knee - SIC Score 88
Rice continues to recover from a minor right knee cleanup procedure performed in mid-May to remove loose debris that was causing inflammation. The surgery was considered relatively minor, and no setbacks have been reported.
The Chiefs wide receiver missed all of OTAs and mandatory minicamp due to a combination of post-surgery rehab and a 30-day jail stint related to a probation violation. However, he completed a team-issued rehabilitation program while incarcerated and was released on June 16.
Kansas City remains optimistic about Rice's recovery, with Andy Reid and the organization expecting him to be ready for training camp in late July. Assuming his next several weeks of rehab go as planned, Rice is on track for Week 1 availability and is not expected to begin camp on the PUP list.
Trey Smith - G - Ankle - SIC Score 92
Smith remained largely healthy throughout the 2025 season and was an active participant during the Chiefs' offseason program.
The veteran guard did miss one practice with a minor ankle issue, but there has been no indication that the injury is significant. Outside of that brief absence, Smith participated normally in minicamp activities and showed no signs of any lingering concerns.
Barring an unexpected setback, Smith is expected to be a full participant when training camp opens, with the minor ankle issue viewed as something to monitor rather than a concern heading into the 2026 season.
Jaylon Moore - OL - SIC Score 93
Moore enters training camp healthy after participating throughout the Chiefs' mandatory minicamp. The veteran offensive lineman primarily split first-team reps at right tackle with undrafted rookie Kahlil Benson, signaling an open competition for the starting job.
Following Kansas City's trade of Wanya Morris to the Falcons, the right tackle position is now a direct battle between Moore and Benson heading into the summer.
There are no significant injury concerns surrounding Moore entering camp. He is expected to be a full participant and will have every opportunity to earn a starting role on the Chiefs' offensive line during training camp and the preseason.
Omarr Norman-Lott - DT - ACL - SIC Score 64
Chiefs defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott continues to recover from the torn ACL he suffered around Week 7 of the 2025 season, an injury that ended his rookie campaign.
Norman-Lott has not participated in any portion of the offseason program and remains in the rehabilitation phase of his recovery, making his absence from minicamp unsurprising given the timeline of ACL recoveries.
Looking ahead, the rookie faces an uphill battle to be ready for the start of the regular season and is a strong candidate to begin training camp on the Active/PUP list. While he could make meaningful progress during camp, his availability for Week 1 and ability to handle a full workload early in the season remain uncertain.
Felix Anudike-Uzomah - EDGE - Hamstring - SIC Score 92
Anudike-Uzomah appears to be fully recovered after missing the entire 2025 season with a hamstring injury that landed him on injured reserve during the preseason.
The third-year edge rusher participated in the Chiefs' offseason program with no reported limitations or absences, a positive sign after losing all of last season to the soft-tissue injury.
Barring any setbacks, Anudike-Uzomah is expected to be a full participant when training camp opens and could be in line for an expanded role in Kansas City's pass rush rotation. After a lost season, his health and availability will be key as the Chiefs look for him to emerge as a significant contributor on the defensive front.
Mansoor Delane - CB - Shoulder - SIC Score 91
Chiefs rookie cornerback Mansoor Delane missed mandatory minicamp and the final week of OTAs after suffering a shoulder injury during offseason practices.
Delane was limited to individual footwork drills on the sideline and did not wear a helmet, indicating Kansas City opted for a cautious approach with the rookie rather than pushing him back onto the field.
The good news is that there are no long-term concerns surrounding the injury, and the expectation is that Delane will be ready for the start of training camp. The Chiefs are hopeful he can return at full strength and appear to be prioritizing a complete recovery over rushing him back during the spring.
L'Jarius Sneed - CB - Knee/Quad - SIC Score 92
Sneed returns to Kansas City looking for a fresh start after two injury-plagued seasons with the Titans. The veteran cornerback was limited to just 5 & 7 games over the 2024 and 2025 seasons due to recurring knee and quad injuries, including a quad injury that landed him on injured reserve in October 2025.
After re-signing with the Chiefs on a one-year deal in June, there were no reported limitations during minicamp, though his late arrival meant he did not have an extensive offseason workload with the team.
Heading into training camp, Sneed's health will be one of the biggest storylines to monitor. If healthy, he has the talent to provide significant value and stability to Kansas City's secondary. However, given his recent injury history, the Chiefs will likely take a cautious approach and carefully manage his workload throughout camp.
Kader Kohou - CB - ACL
Kohou is fully recovered from the partially torn ACL he suffered during training camp in July 2025 when he was with the Dolphins, an injury that forced him to miss the entire season on injured reserve.
The Chiefs medically cleared Kohou earlier this offseason, around March, and there were no reports of setbacks, limitations, or absences during minicamp, an encouraging sign nearly one year removed from the injury.
Barring an unexpected setback, Kohou is expected to be a full participant when training camp opens, with his recovery from the ACL injury considered complete.
Kristian Fulton - CB - Ankle
Fulton's first season in Kansas City was disrupted by multiple injuries, including ankle issues, and he saw his role fluctuate throughout the year despite playing well when available.
The good news is that Fulton appears to be entering 2026 healthy. He participated throughout the offseason program, including making plays during team drills, and there were no significant injury-related absences reported during minicamp.
As training camp approaches, Fulton appears to be fully healthy, but his role in the secondary remains to be determined. Given his sizable cap hit and inconsistent availability over the past few seasons, he'll need to prove he can stay on the field and provide consistent production to secure a significant role in Kansas City's defense.
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