Patrick Mahomes has successfully undergone surgery to repair torn ligaments in his left knee, bringing a premature end to his 2025 campaign with the Kansas City Chiefs.
The two-time MVP sustained the devastating injury during the fourth quarter of Sunday's 16-13 defeat to the Los Angeles Chargers, a loss that simultaneously eliminated Kansas City from playoff contention.
Dr Dan Cooper, the Dallas Cowboys' team physician who specialises in knee and shoulder procedures at the Carrell Clinic, performed the operation on Monday evening.
The surgery addressed tears to both the anterior cruciate ligament and lateral collateral ligament, with the additional LCL damage potentially complicating the rehabilitation process.
Patrick Mahomes suffered the horror injury on Sunday
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Kansas City confirmed that their star quarterback would commence his recovery programme without delay.
"Mahomes will begin his rehab process immediately," the franchise announced.
ESPN's Adam Schefter has expressed confidence that the three-time Super Bowl champion will be fit for the opening fixture of next season.
The veteran NFL insider noted that the standard recovery period for such injuries sits at approximately nine months, which would bring Mahomes to around mid-September 2026.
"He's built different. You know that he's going to have the absolute finest resources, care, attention, to bring him along. I think it'll be a surprise if he's not ready for opening day of 2026," Schefter stated.
Patrick Mahomes had been tipped to return 'Week 1', but this claim has been disputed
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The reporter commended Mahomes for opting to go under the knife immediately rather than delaying the procedure.
This swift action affords the 29-year-old the maximum possible rehabilitation window before the new campaign commences.
Fellow insider Ian Rapoport acknowledged that whilst the LCL tear adds complexity, it does not necessarily extend the recovery beyond nine months.
Robert Griffin III, the former Heisman Trophy winner whose own career was curtailed by knee problems, has counselled a far more conservative approach.
The ex-Washington Commanders quarterback believes Mahomes should remain sidelined for the entirety of the 2026 season rather than risk a premature return.
"Most ACL injuries take 9-to-12 months to heal, but anyone will tell you its usually 12-15 [months] until you actually feel like yourself and normal again," Griffin said on his Outta Pocket podcast.
Griffin drew upon his personal experience, having returned just eight months after his own ACL tear only to see his quarterback rating plummet from 102.4 to 82.2.
Patrick Mahomes is facing 12 months out through injury
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"I would just really urge them not to push the envelope too much and have him come back too soon," he warned.
David Chao, a sports physician with 17 years' experience as an NFL head team doctor, has offered a rather more sobering assessment of the situation.
The medical expert, who serves as an injury analyst for Sirius XM Radio and Fox Sports Radio, has flatly dismissed suggestions that Mahomes could be fully fit by September.
"There is no way for him to be 100% healthy for the start of next season," Chao stated during a video analysis on Tuesday.
He drew parallels with Carson Wentz's December 2017 injury whilst at the Philadelphia Eagles, noting that Wentz himself described his recovery as an 18-24 month process.
"Can [Mahomes] play from the pocket? Sure. But it might be 2027 before he's fully mobile and Patrick Mahomes-like before," Chao cautioned.