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Patrick Mahomes’ season-ending knee injury appears to be worse than first thought after successful surgery on Monday.
However, the Kansas City Chiefs superstar quarterback should still be on the same recovery timeline back to the field next year.
Mahomes reportedly tore his LCL as well as his ACL, according to the NFL Network. The separate ligaments could complicate recovery, but the report adds that this doesn’t necessarily mean Mahomes’ rehab will last longer than nine months.
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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) throws a pass in the third quarter of an NFL game between the Los Angeles Chargers and the Kansas City Chiefs on December 14, 2025 at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire)
The Chiefs announced Monday that Mahomes, their 30-year-old franchise quarterback, immediately underwent surgery in Dallas by Dr. Dan Cooper to repair torn ligaments.
The announcement made no mention of another ligament being torn, although reporters tried to ask Andy Reid if there was anything else before the surgery.
PATRICK MAHOMES SUFFERES BRUTAL KNEE INJURY AS CHIEFS ARE ELIMINATED FROM PLAYOFF CONTEST
“It’s just what they put out there,” Reid said of his team’s announcement. “We’re not trying to hide too much from you, are we? It’s not our game. I’m trying to keep it straight in front of you, so this is the information they had and they laid it out for you.”
Reid was also asked if Mahomes would receive a second opinion on his injury, although immediate surgery shows he and the team wanted it done as soon as possible to begin the recovery process.
That process will be long for Mahomes, but Reid is confident his quarterback is doing what’s necessary to make sure he doesn’t miss any time next season.
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)
“I know the process of rehab and he’s definitely going to get in there and I know he’s going to come out on the strong end of this thing,” Reid said. “When we go here, we will find out a lot about our team. Some of the young guys have opportunities to play, we want to finish this season strong and with effort.”
After Mahomes’ injury in the fourth quarter, backup Gardner Minshew was unable to get the offense into field goal range for Harrison Butker to attempt a possible overtime-forcing field goal. With the 16–13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, the Chiefs were eliminated from the playoffs.
It will be the first time since 2014 that the Chiefs are not in the playoffs and many see it as the end of the “dynasty” that has made three consecutive Super Bowl appearances, winning two of them before falling to the Philadelphia Eagles last year.
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The Chiefs will evaluate their roster over the next three games, which includes Minshew starting the rest of the way under center. But all eyes will be on Mahomes this offseason as it marks a bitter end to a roller coaster season for Kansas City.
