Patrick Mahomes‘ recent knee surgery has sparked controversy, raising questions about his confidence in the Kansas City Chiefs‘ medical team following a season-ending ACL and LCL injury.
The decision to seek treatment outside the organization drew attention after the Kansas City Chiefs‘ Week 15 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers ended 16-13, and Mahomes‘ injury occurred late in the game, abruptly concluding his season.
While the loss was painful on the field, the quarterback’s choice off the field has prompted debate over management trust due to his willingness to travel 506 miles to Dallas rather than find help in Kansas City.
So during The Craig Carton Show, the FOX host criticized the Chiefs‘ credibility, as he implied the quarterback’s move reflects deeper concerns about the organization’s culture.
“For context, Patrick Mahomes flew to Dallas and underwent surgery on Monday to repair his torn ACL,” Craig Carton said.
“The procedure was performed by Dr. Dan Cooper. He’s a known orthopedist and the team physician of the Dallas Cowboys.
“That tells you all you need to know about how Kansas City runs its franchise and why the players have given it failing grades from an ownership standpoint for a number of years now.
“I think we’ve all learned a valuable lesson now.”
How long will Mahomes be sidelined for?
The 30-year-old Mahomes sustained the injury scrambling late in the fourth quarter as the Chiefs later confirmed the severity, as he targets a return in the opening stages of the 2026 NFL season.
The decision to select Dr. Cooper reflected careful consideration of experience rather than team affiliation as he has treated elite athletes for over 30 years and has expertise in complex injuries across multiple sports.
Beyond the NFL, Dr. Cooper has consulted for globally prominent teams like Real Madrid FC and spent nearly two decades with the NHL’s Dallas Stars.
His background demonstrates an ability to manage challenging recoveries for high-profile athletes and Dr. Cooper‘s prior work with Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice in 2024 means the franchise can reliably depend on him.
Rice underwent LCL surgery and a hamstring tendon repair in 2024 and returned in Week 6 of 2025 after serving a suspension, and has since put up 571 receiving yards and five touchdowns on 53 catches.
So the Chiefs emphasized results over optics when approving the surgery, and Dr. Cooper‘s experience with high-pressure recoveries made him a clear choice to safeguard Mahomes‘ long-term performance and career trajectory.
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