Mahomes shows early progress days after ACL, LCL surgery; Chiefs optimistic for 2026 return

Patrick Mahomes is showing rapid early progress in his recovery from a torn ACL and LCL suffered in Kansas City’s 16-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, a defeat that knocked the Chiefs out of playoff contention. The surgery was performed Monday night, and officials say Mahomes has begun rehabilitation at the team facility in Kansas City just days later. A report cited by Fox Sports on Wednesday indicated the quarterback can bend his injured left knee to 90 degrees, a milestone typically reached one to two weeks after surgery.

Mahomes returned to Kansas City on Thursday and began his rehabilitation at the Chiefs facility on Saturday, according to the account. The team has framed the injury as a multi-ligament tear with an unusually rapid initial recovery, noting only that knee-bending ability has improved soon after the operation. The Chiefs are keeping a tight focus on the timeline as they prepare for a potential start to the 2026 season, with the 2026 NFL schedule expected to begin on September 10 and the Chiefs potentially playing their first game shortly after.

Rick Burkholder, Kansas City’s vice president of sports medicine and performance, said the procedure performed by Dr. Dan Cooper went well and that the club is optimistic Mahomes could return early next season. “Every player is different. Every sport is different. Every position is different,” Burkholder 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.” He noted that while nine months is a common estimate for a return, individual timelines vary.

Medical perspectives outside the Chiefs’ circle have highlighted the risks of returning too soon. In an interview with the Daily Mail, Dr. Jesse Morse, a board-certified sports medicine physician, cautioned that Mahomes could be “a shell of his normal self” if he comes back before the 12-month mark. Morse projected that even with early return, mobility and athletic performance might lag for months, and he warned of an elevated reinjury risk if clearance occurs prematurely. Experts generally agree that full strength often takes 12 to 15 months, with some players never regaining peak form until well after the initial year.

The broader context for Mahomes’ timeline centers on the Chiefs’ need to balance urgency with safety. Teams around the league monitor multi-ligament injuries closely, especially for a quarterback whose value to the franchise extends beyond wins and losses. If Mahomes adheres to a cautious plan, the Chiefs would aim to have him ready for Week 1 or early in the season, though officials have emphasized that any decision will hinge on his rehabilitation progress, medical assessments, and clearance by the team’s medical staff.

Image embedded to illustrate the ongoing discussions around Mahomes’ recovery.