The festive spirit was in short supply for Patrick Mahomes on Christmas Day, as the injured Kansas City Chiefs quarterback watched his team's defeat from the sidelines in a subdued state.
A Sombre Spectator on a Festive Day
Mahomes made a return to Arrowhead Stadium for the holiday divisional showdown against the Denver Broncos, but his vantage point was unfamiliar. Instead of leading the offence on the field, the three-time Super Bowl winner observed the action from a VIP suite, appearing downcast as he watched.
His season ended prematurely on December 14 when he suffered a multi-ligament knee injury—a torn ACL and LCL—in a loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Just under two weeks after undergoing surgery to repair the damage, Mahomes showed up to support his teammates, clad in a casual outfit of a red Chiefs t-shirt, a light cream jacket, and a backwards baseball cap.
Chiefs Struggle in Mahomes' Absence
Without their star quarterback under center, the Chiefs' offence sputtered, ultimately slumping to a 20-13 defeat to the AFC West-leading Broncos. The loss was a double blow for the team, as backup quarterback Gardner Minshew was also sidelined with a knee ligament injury suffered the week before Mahomes.
The injury to Mahomes occurred as Kansas City's playoff hopes evaporated with that 16-13 loss to the Chargers earlier in December. The typical recovery timeline for such injuries is nine to twelve months, setting up a race against time for Mahomes to be fit for the start of the 2026 NFL season, expected to begin around September 10.
Astonishing Early Progress in Recovery
Despite the daunting prognosis, Mahomes is reportedly making remarkable strides. According to Fox Sports reporter Jay Glazer, the quarterback is already capable of a 90-degree bend in his injured left knee—a milestone usually achieved one to two weeks after surgery, not days.
Mahomes flew back to Kansas City last week and began his rehabilitation programme at the Chiefs' facility on Saturday. Team officials remain optimistic. Rick Burkholder, the Chiefs' vice president of sports medicine, stated the surgery performed by Dr. Dan Cooper went well and noted that while the "ballpark" recovery is nine months, it could vary. "(Mahomes) is so in tune to what he does, he does it a little quicker," Burkholder said.
Glazer echoed this sentiment, remarking, "They're saying it's a nine-month recovery, Patrick Mahomes though we know is different. He's gonna attack this." All eyes will now be on his rehabilitation as the Chiefs and their fans hope for a speedy return.
