Patrick Mahomes' Road to Recovery: What's Next?

Star Quarterback Faces Nine-Month Recovery

Impact on the NFL Patrick Mahomes, the star quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs, is out for the season after knee surgery. This is a significant development, not just for the Chiefs but for the entire NFL. The league is facing its first postseason in years without Mahomes, Tom Brady, or Peyton Manning.

Team's Reaction Chiefs' head coach Andy Reid expressed the team's sentiments, stating how much they love having Mahomes around. He mentioned that everyone feels for Mahomes but the team has to move on. Gardner Minshew, the new starter, now has a chance to step up. Reid highlighted Minshew's experience and the team's trust in him.

Medical Updates Rick Burkholder, the vice president of sports medicine and performance for the Chiefs, provided crucial updates about Mahomes' injury and recovery. He clarified that there was no disagreement between Mahomes and the team's medical staff about the initial steps post-injury. Mahomes received an MRI right after the game, and the team agreed that Dr. Dan Cooper in Dallas would provide a second opinion. Cooper examined Mahomes on Monday and performed surgery that same night.

Details of the Injury Burkholder revealed that the team knew about the ACL tear on Sunday night, but the LCL damage wasn't confirmed until after the surgery on Monday. He explained that the LCL injury necessitated quick surgery. Normally, knee-repair surgeries occur at least 48 hours after the injury, but Cooper acted swiftly to reattach the avulsion injury in the LCL.

Rehabilitation Plan Mahomes will begin his rehabilitation in Dallas but will return to Kansas City on Friday. Burkholder noted that Mahomes trusts the team's assistant athletic trainer, Julie Frymyer, who has overseen his recovery from previous injuries. Burkholder also mentioned that Cooper's expertise and advanced techniques could allow Mahomes to return earlier than expected.

Recovery Timeline The typical timeline for an ACL injury like Mahomes' is around nine months. Mahomes got hurt on December 14, which is exactly nine months before the start of the 2026 NFL season. Burkholder stated that the exact timeline could vary, but Mahomes' prognosis is as good as it can be. Currently, the focus is on reducing swelling and reactivating his muscles.