Kansas City Chiefs superstar Patrick Mahomes could return as a diminished force next season if he pushes to be ready for the opening game, a leading sports medicine physician has exclusively warned.
The Gruelling Road to Recovery
This stark prognosis follows the devastating knee injury Mahomes, 30, suffered during Sunday's 16-13 defeat to the Los Angeles Chargers, which eliminated the Chiefs from playoff contention. The three-time Super Bowl winner tore the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and lateral collateral ligament (LCL) in his left knee, marking the first major injury of his illustrious career.
In a surprising move, Mahomes underwent surgery a mere 24 hours after the injury, with renowned surgeon Dr. Dan Cooper, the head team physician for the Dallas Cowboys, performing the operation. This rapid timeline raised eyebrows, as ACL procedures are typically delayed for weeks to allow swelling to subside.
Why Surgery Could Not Wait
Dr. Jesse Morse, a board-certified sports medicine physician with over a decade of experience, explained the reasoning to the Daily Mail. He suggested the urgency was likely due to the severity of the LCL tear, which can destabilise the entire knee if not addressed promptly.
"Dr Cooper specialises in reconstruction or repair of the LCL," Morse stated. "My suspicion is he evaluated Mahomes and said, 'You have a significant LCL tear... that has to be done very soon, a couple days at the most.'"
Morse believes the surgical team then decided to reconstruct the ACL simultaneously to save Mahomes a second operation and potentially speed up his overall rehabilitation. This aggressive approach is almost entirely driven by Mahomes' desire to be fit for Week 1 of the 2026 season, which is scheduled to begin in just under nine months.
A Long and Frustrating Journey Ahead
However, Dr. Morse delivered a sobering assessment of what a return at that point would entail. Medical guidance typically advises against returning to sport before the nine-month mark after an ACL tear, with full strength often taking 12 to 15 months to regain.
"Mahomes is going to do everything in his power to be back for week one next year, in my opinion. But he is not going to look very good," Morse cautioned. "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."
The doctor estimated Mahomes would only be operating at about 65 percent of his capacity if he suits up for the season opener, also highlighting an increased risk of re-injury. He stressed that the Chiefs' medical staff would be the final arbiters, protecting their franchise player if he is not truly ready.
Despite the physical limitations, Morse conceded that Mahomes' mental acuity and arm strength would still likely outclass most backup quarterbacks. The quarterback also has access to elite rehabilitation resources, from hyperbaric chambers to specialist physiotherapists, which could aid his recovery.
The injury caps a miserable season for Kansas City, who will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2014. In a post on X, Mahomes vowed to attack his rehabilitation, writing: "Don't know why this had to happen... But all we can do now is Trust in God and attack every single day over and over again... I Will be back stronger than ever."
Dr. Morse concluded that the world will likely know by late July or early August whether Mahomes has won his race against time to start the 2026 campaign, or if patience will be the wiser course for the Chiefs' most valuable asset.
