Patrick Mahomes Already Making Strides in Recovery After Major Knee Surgery
Just days removed from undergoing surgery to repair both a torn ACL and LCL, Patrick Mahomes is already ahead of schedule in his recovery - and that’s no small feat given the severity of the injury. According to reports, the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback can already bend his injured left knee to 90 degrees, a milestone typically reached one to two weeks after surgery. For Mahomes, it’s just another example of the relentless work ethic that’s defined his career.
The injury occurred during last week’s 16-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers - a game that not only knocked the Chiefs out of playoff contention but also delivered a gut punch to a franchise that’s been a perennial Super Bowl threat. Losing Mahomes to a multi-ligament knee injury was the final blow in a season that never quite found its rhythm.
Surgery took place less than 24 hours after the injury, a timeline that raised a few eyebrows among fans who worried about operating before swelling had a chance to subside. But in cases involving LCL tears, that kind of quick turnaround is actually common. And now, Mahomes is already showing signs of rapid progress.
Fox Sports' Jay Glazer reported that Mahomes has already achieved a 90-degree bend in the knee - a significant early benchmark. That kind of flexibility this soon after surgery speaks volumes about both the surgical success and Mahomes' commitment to the rehab process.
After flying back to Kansas City on Thursday, the three-time Super Bowl champion was back at the Chiefs’ facility by Saturday, diving into his rehabilitation program. It’s the kind of fast-track mentality we’ve come to expect from Mahomes, who’s never been one to shy away from a challenge - even when that challenge is a grueling, months-long recovery.
“They're saying it's a nine-month recovery,” Glazer noted. “Patrick Mahomes though, we know is different. He's gonna attack this.”
That nine-month timeline would put Mahomes on track to return right around the start of the 2026 NFL season, which is slated to kick off on September 10. Depending on the league schedule, the Chiefs could be playing their opener just days after that.
Rick Burkholder, the Chiefs' VP of sports medicine and performance, confirmed the procedure - performed by Dr. Dan Cooper - went smoothly and gave the team reason for optimism. Still, as Burkholder emphasized, no two recoveries are the same.
“Every player is different. Every sport is different.
Every position is different,” he said. “(Mahomes) is so in tune to what he does, he does it a little quicker.
Ballpark on this is nine months, but it could be a month or two more, a month or two less.”
That variability is key. While nine months is often cited as the standard return-to-play timeline following ACL surgery, many athletes don’t feel fully like themselves until 12 to 15 months post-op. That’s especially true for quarterbacks like Mahomes, whose mobility and ability to extend plays outside the pocket are central to their game.
Dr. Jesse Morse, a board-certified sports medicine physician, weighed in on what Mahomes - and the Chiefs - might expect if he pushes to return by Week 1.
“Mahomes is going to do everything in his power to be back for Week 1 next year,” Morse said. “But he is not going to look very good. He’s going to look like a shell of his normal self, he’s not going to have the mobility that you expect out of him, and that really won’t return until probably 2027.”
That’s a sobering take, but it reflects the reality of ACL and LCL recoveries. These aren’t just physical rehabs - they’re mental ones, too. And while Mahomes’ arm talent and football IQ remain elite, the question is how much of his signature off-script magic will be available early in the season.
Morse also addressed the risk of reinjury - a concern any time a player returns before the body is fully ready.
“I’ll probably say hypothetically he’s going to be about 65 percent [by Week 1],” Morse added. “I don’t think they’ll clear him unless he’s ready to return. Sometimes he’ll be wanting to go but the team’s like, ‘Nope, we don’t feel you’re ready,’ and he’s too important to the franchise to justify it.”
That’s the balancing act the Chiefs will be dealing with all offseason. On one hand, Mahomes is a generational talent with a warrior’s mentality. On the other, he’s the face of the franchise - and potentially the league - whose long-term health matters far more than one early-season game.
For now, though, the early signs are encouraging. Mahomes is attacking his rehab with the same intensity he brings on Sundays, and if anyone can beat the timeline, it’s him. But even for a player of his caliber, the road back from an ACL and LCL tear is long, winding, and full of unknowns.
The Chiefs will hope that by the time September rolls around, their franchise quarterback is not just back - but back to being Patrick Mahomes.