Kansas City Chiefs’ nightmare 2025 NFL season could bleed into 2026 after latest news on Patrick Mahomes’ knee injury
The latest update on Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes’ knee injury isn’t a good one.
Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes confirmed the worst fears about his knee injury shortly before the team announced the results of his postgame MRI.
The Chiefs sent the following message on social media just moments after Mahomes sent his own message:
“Injury Update on QB Patrick Mahomes: An MRI has confirmed that Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes sustained a torn ACL in his left knee in today’s game. Patrick and the club are currently exploring surgical options.”
Has Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes injured this knee before?
Chiefs fans might recall that Patrick Mahomes suffered a dislocated kneecap during the 2019 NFL season, in a game against the Denver Broncos. He missed just a few weeks and returned en route to their Super Bowl LIV win.
That was actually his right knee where he suffered the injury. This torn ACL is in his left knee. He’s actually avoided any significant knee injuries to this point during his NFL career, but has played through numerous ankle injuries. In college, his only notable injuries were a wrist fracture and a concussion.
What’s the typical recovery timeline of a torn ACL?
Recovery for ACL injuries can vary based on the severity of the tear and if there is any accompanying ligament damage. There are three different grades of tear: Grade 1 (mild), Grade 2 (partial), and Grade 3 (complete). The fact that the Chiefs are seeking surgical intervention suggests a Grade 2 or Grade 3 tear, which would yield an injury-recovery timeline of 8-12 months.
Mahomes has been a total beast when it comes to battling through injury and coming back sooner than expected during his NFL career. Eight months from this exact date would be August 2026, which would put his return right in the middle of the preseason. However, if he’s on the longer end of the injury recovery timeline, the Chiefs will need another solution at quarterback for the start of the 2026 NFL season.
Chiefs’ 2025 quarterback depth chart
- Patrick Mahomes (torn ACL)
- Gardner Minshew
- Chris Oladokun (Practice squad)
Gardner Minshew and Chris Oladokun probably can get the team through the next three meaningless games, but neither player is under contract for the 2026 season. Needless to say, the team will likely look for Mahomes to have surgery on his knee sooner rather than later to ensure the quickest possible rehab and recovery timeline for the star quarterback.
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