Kansas City Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes has commenced his rehabilitation journey following successful surgery to repair significant damage to his left knee. The two-time NFL MVP faces a race against time to be ready for the start of the 2026 season.
Surgery and Recovery Timeline
The crucial operation took place in Dallas on Monday night, performed by renowned surgeon Dr. Dan Cooper. The procedure addressed tears to both the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and the lateral collateral ligament (LCL), injuries sustained during the Chiefs' recent loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
Rick Burkholder, the Chiefs' Vice President of Sports Medicine and Performance, confirmed the surgery went smoothly. He provided a ballpark recovery estimate of around nine months, but stressed the variability for each athlete. "Every player is different. Every sport is different. Every position is different," Burkholder stated. "(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."
Chiefs Adjust to Life Without Their Star
The injury has forced a dramatic shift for the franchise. The loss to the Chargers mathematically eliminated Kansas City from playoff contention, snapping a decade-long postseason streak. This period also included nine consecutive AFC West titles, seven conference championship appearances, and three Super Bowl trips.
Veteran backup Gardner Minshew will now lead the offence for the final three games of the season, starting this Sunday at Tennessee. Minshew acknowledged the strange atmosphere without Mahomes but revealed the injured QB remains involved. "He's been great, man. Soon as he's been figuring things out, he's been texting the QB room," Minshew said. "Very positive. Trying to get us fired up. That dude still wants us to win."
The Chiefs' injury woes extend beyond their quarterback. Key players including wide receivers Rashee Rice and Tyquan Thornton (both in concussion protocol), and offensive tackles Jaylon Moore and Jawaan Taylor are sidelined. Defensively, cornerback Trent McDuffie and linebacker Leo Chenal are also dealing with injuries.
Mahomes' Mindset and Rehabilitation Team
Mahomes is expected to return to Kansas City by Friday to continue his rehab under the supervision of Burkholder's team. Leading his physical therapy will be Julie Frymyer, the assistant trainer and physical therapist famed for helping Mahomes play through a severe high-ankle sprain during the 2022-23 playoffs.
Both Burkholder and head coach Andy Reid highlighted Mahomes' unique mentality as a critical factor in his recovery. "He's so regimented in what he does. He's in here at 6 a.m. He's the last guy out at night. He'll take the rehab like that," Burkholder explained. Reid added, "He's so positive right now... He attacked this thing the day of. 'Get me up, get me going,' he's basically saying, an hour after the game."
The 2026 NFL season is projected to begin on September 10, 2026, with the Chiefs likely playing their opener a few days later. The organisation remains cautiously optimistic that their franchise quarterback could be under centre when that first whistle blows.
