Patrick Mahomes is currently facing the biggest hurdle of his professional career. It isn't a blitzing linebacker or a complex cover-2 scheme. It's a surgical scar on his left knee.
On January 15, 2026, Mahomes finally broke his silence. He looked into a camera during a Zoom call from Kansas City and told us what we all wanted to hear: he plans to be under center for Week 1 of the 2026 season. But honestly, "planning" and "doing" are two very different things when your knee has been reconstructed.
The injury happened on December 14, 2025. It was a late-game disaster against the Chargers. He didn't just tweak something; he tore his ACL and LCL. That’s a "multi-ligament" repair, which sounds as painful as it is.
The Reality of the Patrick Mahomes Latest News
Right now, the narrative is all about "hitting checkpoints." Mahomes is working with Julie Frymyer, the Chiefs' assistant athletic trainer who famously helped him through that high ankle sprain during the 2022 Super Bowl run. There’s a deep trust there. He’s essentially living in the Chiefs' facility, trying to convince the medical staff to let him do more than the script allows.
"They have to hold me back," Mahomes admitted. That’s classic Patrick.
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But let’s look at the math. Surgery was mid-December. Most ACL recoveries for elite athletes take nine to twelve months. Week 1 of the 2026 season should kick off around September 10. That gives him roughly nine months—the absolute floor of a safe recovery window. If he makes it, it’ll be a minor miracle of modern sports science.
Why This Offseason Feels Different
For the first time since he took over the starting job, Mahomes isn't preparing for a playoff game in January. The Chiefs finished a dismal 6-11. It was a "disastrous campaign," as many local reporters have called it. While the rest of the league is fighting for a Super Bowl, Mahomes is celebrating his daughter Golden’s first birthday and his mother Randi’s 50th at his restaurant, 1587 Prime.
It’s weird seeing him in "dad mode" in January.
The team around him is also evaporating. Andy Reid is staying—thankfully for Chiefs fans—but the coaching staff is being gutted. Running backs coach Todd Pinkston and wide receivers coach Connor Embree were both fired on January 15. Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy is being looked at for head coaching gigs elsewhere. Mahomes is going to return to a very different building.
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What Most People Get Wrong About the Recovery
Everyone assumes that because he’s "The Grim Reaper," he’ll just bounce back. But an LCL tear on top of an ACL adds a layer of lateral instability that is tricky for a quarterback who relies on his "off-platform" throwing.
He needs to be able to plant and twist.
The good news? Dr. Dan Cooper, the surgeon who did the procedure in Dallas, reportedly told Mahomes the rest of the knee was "clean." No cartilage damage. No meniscus shredding. That's huge. If it was just the ligaments, the path to 100% is much smoother.
The Business of Being Mahomes
Even while rehabbing, the "Mahomes Brand" isn't slowing down. His net worth is holding steady around $90 million, largely because his $210.6 million restructured contract is essentially a money-printing machine through 2026. He’s also reportedly still pushing for a WNBA team in Kansas City.
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The man is building an empire while on crutches.
He’s invested in:
- The Kansas City Royals (MLB)
- Sporting KC (MLS)
- Whataburger franchises (which he brought to KC)
- Throne Sport Coffee
The Actionable Forecast for Chiefs Kingdom
If you’re a fan or a fantasy manager, don't expect the "old" Mahomes in September. Even if he starts Week 1, the Chiefs will likely be extremely conservative with his mobility. Expect a lot of quick-game passing and a heavy reliance on the run game—assuming they can actually fix the league-worst explosive run rate they posted last year.
Here is what to watch for in the coming months:
- The March 11 Deadline: The Chiefs must be under the salary cap and decide on options for 2026. This is where we see how they’ll protect Mahomes.
- OTA Participation: Mahomes mentioned he wants to do "some stuff" in late April. If he’s out there throwing—even without a pass rush—that’s a massive win.
- The Backup Search: With Gardner Minshew’s future uncertain, keep an eye on whether the Chiefs hunt for a high-end veteran backup or a mid-round draft pick. They can't afford to go 0-3 if Mahomes isn't ready by September.
Ultimately, Mahomes is saying the right things. He’s "excited for the process." But for a guy who has spent his career making the impossible look easy, this recovery is the one thing he can't rush with a no-look pass.