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Patrick Mahomes suffered a devastating knee injury that ended his 2025 season and completely crushed the hopes of the Kansas City Chiefs to make the playoffs.
Mahomes suffered the injury on December 14, 2025 in Week 15 against the Los Angeles Chargers. A torn ACL usually takes about nine months for most athletes to recover and return to their sport. That would peg Mahomes’ return to around Week 1 of the 2026 season.
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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) walks on the field prior to the game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on Nov. 27, 2025. (Kevin Jairaj/Imagn Images)
While his status for the start of the 2026 regular season is still up in the air, the star quarterback posted a video that would get any NFL fan excited about his return to the field.
“QB1 back in lab,” Chiefs posted on X.
The video showed Mahomes falling back and throwing a football. He was seen wearing a black compression sleeve on his leg. It was only a six-second clip, but he appeared to be making good progress in his rehab process.
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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) throws a pass against the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth quarter at AT&T Stadium on Nov. 27, 2025. (Kevin Jairaj/Imagn Images)
Mahomes addressed his status in January when the season ended.
“First of all, the rehab is going well so far. I’ve hit all the checkpoints that the doctor wants you to do and get the strength and mobility back,” Mahomes said. “So, it’s been great. I’ve done it all here in Kansas City so far. (Assistant athletic trainer) Julie (Frymyer) has been crushing it, pushing me. The doctor kind of gives you goals to reach and I’m just trying to maximize them and they hold me back because I always want to go a little bit further. It’s gone a little bit further.
“I think long-term I’ll be ready for Week 1. The doctor says I could be, but I can’t predict what’s going to happen throughout the process, but that’s my goal, so I’m going to try to prepare myself to be ready to play Week 1 and have no limitations. You want to be healthy out there and give us the best chance to win. Of course, I hope to practice and hope to practice in camp. to do a lot there, I I’m excited about the process. It’s a long process, but I’m excited about it.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes clutches his knee after being injured during the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Kansas City, Missouri. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffman)
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The Chiefs traded for Justin Fields this month to add depth at the quarterback position.
