If you’ve been scrolling through social media or checking sports tickers lately, you’ve probably seen the panic. It’s the question every Kansas City fan—and honestly, every NFL fan—has been dreading. Is Patrick Mahomes hurt?
The short answer is yes. And it’s not just a "tweak" or a "day-to-day" situation. We are talking about the most significant physical challenge of his career.
Back in mid-December 2025, during a late-game situation against the Chargers, the unthinkable happened. Mahomes was rolled up on while trying to make a play. He stayed down. He held his left knee. If you saw the footage, you knew immediately it wasn't good. The diagnosis came back as a torn ACL and LCL.
This isn't just a blow to the Chiefs' depth chart; it’s a seismic shift for the entire league.
The Reality of the Left Knee Injury
When we talk about whether Patrick Mahomes is hurt right now, we’re looking at a long-term recovery process that began in a Dallas operating room. On December 15, 2025, Mahomes underwent successful surgery to repair those two torn ligaments. Dr. Dan Cooper performed the procedure.
While "successful surgery" is the standard PR line, the reality of a multi-ligament tear is complicated.
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Most people know what an ACL tear looks like. It’s a 9-to-12 month recovery. But adding the LCL (lateral collateral ligament) into the mix adds another layer of stability issues that the training staff has to account for. Rick Burkholder, the Chiefs’ VP of Sports Medicine, has been pretty transparent about the timeline. He's floated a nine-month ballpark, but he also stressed that every athlete's body reacts differently.
Basically, Mahomes is currently in the "grind" phase of rehab.
Why This Time Feels Different for No. 15
We've seen him play through a lot. Remember the high-ankle sprain during the Super Bowl run? Or the kneecap dislocation back in 2019 where he only missed a couple of games?
He's usually a fast healer. But he’s 30 now.
The volume of football he’s played is staggering. Seven straight years of deep playoff runs. Twenty-one extra games of high-intensity postseason hits. That takes a toll. Before the knee gave out in Week 15, there were whispers that Mahomes looked "tired." Not just physically, but mentally drained from carrying an offense that struggled to find its rhythm all year.
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The Chiefs missing the playoffs for the first time in a decade is a weird reality. It’s given him an "offseason" he never wanted.
What the Chiefs Are Doing Without Him
The front office isn't just sitting around waiting for a miracle. With Mahomes sidelined, the quarterback room in Kansas City looks... well, different.
- The Gardner Minshew Experiment: Minshew took the reigns for the final games of the 2025 season. It was a rollercoaster. He’s a bridge, but is he the guy you want starting Week 1 of 2026 if Mahomes isn't 100%? Probably not.
- Scouring the Market: There’s been a lot of talk about bringing in a high-level veteran. Names like Russell Wilson or even a reunion with a former backup have been tossed around.
- Draft Strategy: For the first time since 2017, the Chiefs might actually have to look at a quarterback in the early-to-mid rounds. Not to replace the GOAT, but because they need insurance.
The Timeline for 2026: Will He Be Ready?
The big date everyone is circling is September 10, 2026. That’s the projected kickoff for the next season.
If you do the math from a mid-December surgery, September is exactly nine months. That’s tight. If he returns then, he will have missed all of OTAs, all of training camp, and most of the meaningful preseason reps with his receivers.
Julie Frymyer, the physical therapist who famously helped him through the ankle injury, is leading his rehab. If anyone can get him back on the field ahead of schedule, it’s her. But an ACL/LCL combo isn't something you can just "tough out." If that graft isn't fully integrated, one wrong plant and the 2026 season—and maybe his career—is in jeopardy.
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Honestly, the Chiefs might be better off "recalibrating." General Manager Brett Veach has a tough choice: go all-in on a 2026 Super Bowl run with a potentially hobbled Mahomes, or use the year to reset the roster and make sure their $450 million man is actually healthy for the long haul.
What to Watch Moving Forward
If you're tracking his progress, stop looking for "official" team videos and start watching the social media updates from his wife, Brittany Mahomes. She’s been the one sharing the small milestones—the first steps without crutches, the early gym sessions.
As of January 2026, he’s in the early stages of weight-bearing exercises. There’s no throwing yet. No lateral movement. Just the slow, boring work of getting a knee to function like a knee again.
Next Steps for Fans and Analysts:
- Monitor the Combine and Free Agency: Watch if the Chiefs sign a "starter-level" backup. If they bring in a guy like Kirk Cousins or another high-priced vet, it tells you they don't expect Mahomes back for the start of the season.
- Track the "Phase 1" Offseason Program: By April, we should know if Mahomes is ahead of the curve. If he's still limited to stationary drills by then, the Week 1 start becomes a long shot.
- Ignore the "Super-Human" Narrative: Yes, he’s Patrick Mahomes. But biological ligaments don't care about MVP trophies. Realistic expectations put his "true" return to form closer to October or November 2026.
The era of the Chiefs' invincibility has a dent in it. Whether it's a permanent crack or just a temporary setback depends entirely on how that left knee holds up over the next six months.