Patrick Mahomes saw his 2025 season come to a crushing end after suffering a torn ACL and LCL in his left knee during a Week 15 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. With under two minutes remaining, Mahomes rolled out to extend the play but was rolled up on by a defender, immediately grabbing his knee before being helped off the field. The injury was later confirmed via MRI and required surgery, ending his season.
Before going down, Mahomes had once again carried the Kansas City Chiefs offense. He finished the year with 3,984 passing yards, 31 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, keeping Kansas City competitive despite inconsistency across the roster. His absence exposed those gaps, as the Chiefs failed to sustain offensive rhythm down the stretch.
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Mahomes underwent surgery shortly after the injury and immediately began rehab, targeting a return for the start of the 2026 season. The recovery timeline for both ligaments is roughly nine months, making a Week 1 return realistic if there are no setbacks.
On Wednesday, Mahomes shared a key milestone on his Instagram stories, posting a video of himself throwing a football, with the caption: “Day by day! Felt great being able to throw the ball around today.”
The update confirms he has resumed throwing activity — a major step in his progression back to full health.
Head coach Andy Reid has remained confident in his quarterback’s approach:
“He's around here all the time. He spends a ton of time here – seven hours a day,” Reid said in February. “He's in there cranking away, making progress every day, and it's great to see him [working with Assistant Athletic Trainer] Julie [Frymyer]…You have to fight through it, and you have to attack the challenge of the workout and rehab. He's doing a great job of that.”
Kansas City has also been aggressive in reshaping the offense around him. The Chiefs retained Travis Kelce, ensuring Mahomes will still have his most trusted target, and reunited with offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy to restore structure and familiarity to the system. In the backfield, they made a major addition by signing Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III, who brings explosiveness after posting 1,027 rushing yards in 2025.
With a revamped offensive setup and Mahomes trending in the right direction physically, Kansas City is positioning itself for a rebound. His recovery remains the defining storyline — but if he returns at full strength, the Chiefs will once again enter the 2026 season as a legitimate contender.
