Patrick Mahomes recently suffered a serious left knee injury: he tore the ACL and LCL in his left knee in a mid-December 2025 game against the Los Angeles Chargers, and he has since undergone surgery and begun rehab with the goal of returning for Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season.

What happened to Mahomes’ knee?

  • During a Week 15 game vs. the Chargers in December 2025, Mahomes took an awkward step and sustained a major injury to his left knee.
  • Imaging and team statements confirmed a torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament), and later reports added an LCL (lateral collateral ligament) tear, making it a multi‑ligament knee injury.
  • The injury ended his 2025 season, and Kansas City turned to backup Gardner Minshew for the remaining games.

Surgery and rehab status

  • Mahomes had knee surgery in December 2025 to repair the damaged ligaments, performed in Dallas by specialist Dr. Dan Cooper.
  • The Chiefs’ medical staff has said the procedure went well and that Mahomes has already started rehab work aimed at a return early in the 2026 season.
  • Reports describe him as attacking rehab with his usual intensity and remaining involved with teammates even while sidelined.

Expected recovery timeline

  • Multi‑ligament knee injuries like an ACL plus LCL tear typically require about 9–12 months of recovery before a full return to high‑level play.
  • That timeline puts Mahomes in a race to be ready right around the start of the 2026 NFL season, with team doctors suggesting Week 1 is possible but not guaranteed.
  • As with any major knee injury, the exact return date will depend on how his strength, stability, and confidence progress over the coming months.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.