KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has started rehab after undergoing surgery to repair two torn ligaments in his left knee, and the team is optimistic the two-time NFL MVP could be back early next season — perhaps even for the opener.
Rick Burkholder, the team’s vice president of sports medicine and performance, said Wednesday the procedure performed in Dallas by Dr. Dan Cooper on Monday night went well. The operation happened the day after Mahomes tore his ACL and LCL in a loss to the Los Angeles Chargers at Arrowhead Stadium.
The recovery time for such an injury is about nine months, though it could vary by several months depending on various factors. The NFL’s 2026 season is expected to kick off Sept. 10, and the Chiefs could play their first game a few days later.
“Every player is different. Every sport is different. Every position is different,” Burkholder said. “(Mahomes) is so in tune to what he does, he does it a little quicker. Ballpark on this is nine months, but it could be a month or two more, a month or two less.”
The loss to the Chargers eliminated the Chiefs from postseason contention, ending their streak of playoff berths at a decade. They had also won the past nine AFC West Division titles, reached the previous seven conference championship games and played in the past three Super Bowls.