Patrick Mahomes‘ road to recovery is underway just days after the Kansas City Chiefs‘ star quarterback underwent knee surgery, according to a report shared on X.
Chiefs vice president of sports medicine and performance Rick Burkholder offered a starkly optimistic update Wednesday.
The news, which emerged after Mahomes underwent an expedited surgical procedure Monday night in Dallas to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and lateral collateral ligament (LCL), suggests the reigning MVP has wasted no time beginning the grueling rehabilitation process that lies ahead.
“Everything that he had in this injury was fixable, correctable and it was fixed on Monday night,” Burkholder said in the team’s first comprehensive update on Mahomes‘ condition.
“He’s already started rehab down in Dallas. He was there first thing Tuesday morning.”
The swift transition from operating table to rehabilitation exercises marks the opening chapter of what is expected to be a long and intense comeback bid from one of the NFL‘s most impactful players.
Mahomes‘ injury, sustained late in Kansas City‘s loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Dec. 14, snapped the Chiefs‘ decade-long streak of playoff appearances and immediately raised questions about the future of the franchise.
Early start to recovery sets tone for comeback
Mahomes will continue his rehab through Thursday in Dallas before returning to Kansas City, where he will work with the team’s medical and training staff under the supervision of assistant athletic trainer Julie Frymyer. Frymyer has previously guided Mahomes through recovery from other injuries, including a high-ankle sprain that the quarterback overcame without missing playing time.
Burkholder also emphasized the absence of more serious structural damage, such as harm to arteries, nerves, joint surfaces, or meniscal tissue, which medical staff say gives Mahomes a clearer path to recovery.
“He’s in a protective brace right now,” Burkholder said, outlining precautions to manage swelling and muscle engagement as the early rehab phase unfolds.
Despite the severity of the ligament tears, the Chiefs‘ medical team has framed the outcome as one of those complex but correctable cases that could see Mahomes back on the field as early as the start of the 2026 season. Burkholder described the typical recovery timeline for an ACL/LCL repair as roughly nine months, but stressed that individual variation is significant.
“Every player is different,” he added. “Every sport is different. Every position is different.”
Mahomes‘ previous experience with injuries and disciplined preparation, the medical chief suggested, could help the quarterback return slightly faster than average.
His teammates are already adapting to life without their franchise leader. Backup quarterback Gardner Minshew is lined up to start the final three games this season while Mahomes focuses fully on recovery.
Coach Andy Reid and offensive leaders have publicly backed Mahomes, emphasizing confidence in his work ethic and the organization’s supporting medical structure.
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