This past week provided clear signs of how well Patrick Mahomes’ recovery is progressing following surgery to repair the ACL and LCL injuries he suffered during the 2025 season, offering a more optimistic outlook than initially expected.
Whether he will be ready for the start of the 2026 season remains an open debate among specialists, as Kansas City Chiefs fans closely monitor every update after seeing their star quarterback return to limited on-field activity in recent days.
The return of Patrick Mahomes
Three months have passed since Patrick Mahomes underwent surgery. He has already been seen throwing passes, although his mobility still appears quite limited, which is entirely normal given the severity of the injury and the early stage of his rehabilitation process.
The quarterback looks sharp, albeit slower than usual. Still, this provides strong hope that Chiefs fans may see him take control of the offense from the very beginning of the 2026 season if his recovery continues without complications.
It is widely believed that recovery from an injury of this magnitude typically takes between eight and ten months. However, based on the video footage of Mahomes, that timeline could potentially be shortened if progress continues at this encouraging pace.
It is important to emphasize that accelerating recovery timelines can also carry risks, including improper healing or setbacks, which could ultimately prove more damaging for both the player and the team if not managed carefully by medical staff.
Ian Rapoport discussed the current state of the Chiefs’ signal-caller on The Insiders program, providing a more measured perspective on the situation.
This is good news.”…”That said, there is still some uncertainty. There’s a lot of uncertainty because he is just three months out from a nine-to-twelve-month recovery.
It is not just an ACL tear. It is also an LCL tear.”…”It also is the kind of thing that can take a little bit longer. The knee can be a little stiff.
He also made a comparison with the recovery timeline of Carson Wentz, who previously went through a similar injury and faced challenges returning at full strength.
If Patrick Mahomes is not ready in September, he is just not going to be on the field.”…”That is why they traded for Justin Fields.
Fans also expressed excitement after seeing him throw again, sharing optimistic reactions across social media platforms following the circulating clips of his progress.
Good to hear Mahomes is back on the field! Still some work ahead, but progress is promising.
Another fan commented with strong confidence in the quarterback’s resilience and ability to overcome adversity quickly.
Shut up Ian. He is going to start week 1,” another fan commented. “Mahomes is built different.
Some fans pointed to his performance level regardless of health.
Mahomes at 50% still breaks the league.
One user added.
According to the medical report provided by Kansas City’s vice president of sports medicine, Rick Burkholder, the expected recovery window was also outlined.
Ballpark on this thing is nine months.”… “It could be a month or two less, month or two more.
