Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes Eyes Week 1 Return in 2026 After Present process ACL Surgical procedure

[ad_1] Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has begun rehab following surgical procedure to restore two torn ligaments in his left knee, and the group is optimistic the two-time MVP may very well be again early subsequent season — even perhaps by the point Kansas Metropolis performs Week 1.

Rick Burkholder, their vice chairman of sports activities drugs and efficiency, mentioned Wednesday the process carried out in Dallas by Dr. Dan Cooper on Monday night time went effectively. The operation occurred about 24 hours after Mahomes tore his ACL and LCL in a loss to the Chargers.

The restoration time for such an damage is about 9 months, although it might range by a number of months relying on varied components. Subsequent season is predicted to kick off on September 10, 2026, and the Chiefs might play their first recreation a number of days later.

"Each participant is totally different. Each sport is totally different. Each place is totally different," Burkholder mentioned. "[Mahomes] is so in tune to what he does, he does it somewhat faster. Ballpark on that is 9 months, but it surely may very well be a month or two extra, a month or two much less."

The loss to the Chargers eradicated the Chiefs from postseason rivalry, ending that streak at a decade. They'd additionally received the previous 9 AFC West titles, reached the earlier seven convention championship video games and performed up to now three Tremendous Bowls.

Now, backup Gardner Minshew will quarterback them by means of the ultimate three video games starting Sunday at Tennessee.

"Fast turnaround from a really emotional recreation, and clearly the state of affairs with Pat, the state of affairs with our group's playoff image," he mentioned. "However you already know what? You're the place you are at. We have now to show this round and get a win this weekend."

The Chiefs may very well be lacking a number of huge names past their star quarterback.

Rashee Rice and fellow extensive receiver Tyquan Thornton are within the concussion protocol after taking vicious hits within the recreation towards Los Angeles, whereas left sort out Jaylon Moore stays out with a knee damage and proper sort out Jawaan Taylor is out with an elbow situation.

Patrick Mahomes’ Comeback Timeline and Can Philip Rivers Maintain Rolling with the Colts? On protection, cornerback Trent McDuffie continues to be coping with a knee damage and linebacker Leo Chenal with a shoulder downside.

None of these gamers practiced Wednesday.

"We'll see how they roll timewise for the sport," Chiefs coach Andy Reid mentioned.

As for Mahomes, he plans to return to Kansas Metropolis by Friday, the place he'll proceed rehabbing with Burkholder's workers. Main the trouble shall be Julie Frymyer, his assistant coach and prime bodily therapist, whose identify made headlines through the 2022-23 playoffs for her position in serving to Mahomes overcome a extreme high-ankle sprain with out having to overlook a recreation.

Frymyer was even featured alongside Mahomes not too long ago in a State Farm insurance coverage industrial.

"I feel you guys know, as a participant, his mindset is somewhat totally different than most," Burkholder mentioned. "He is so regimented in what he does. He is in right here at 6 a.m. He is the final man out at night time. He'll take the rehab like that. Once you add up all of the little issues, that permits the participant to get again sooner. They do not heal up sooner, they only get again to efficiency sooner."

Chiefs miss playoffs for first time in 11 years, Time for a roster overhaul? Reid mentioned he is spoken every day with Mahomes because the damage within the closing minutes of Sunday's recreation.

"He is so constructive proper now," Reid mentioned. "Like Rick mentioned, he attacked this factor the day of. You would not count on something much less. ‘Get me up, get me going,’ he is mainly saying, an hour after the sport. ‘Brace me up and let me go.’ It isn't a type of accidents, clearly, however that is his mindset. I feel he'll do nice with the rehab. He is a reasonably quick healer that manner. And his perspective is 90% of issues, the way you go about it. The way you're prepared to push by means of the ache to get proper."

Minshew acknowledged a wierd feeling strolling by means of the group facility with out Mahomes this week. However the two QBs have been in contact, and the veteran of 46 begins throughout seven NFL seasons is wanting ahead to Mahomes' enter the remainder of the way in which.

"He is been nice, man. Quickly as he is been figuring issues out, he is been texting the QB room," Minshew mentioned. "Very constructive. Making an attempt to get us fired up. That dude nonetheless needs us to win. That is what he cares about."

Reporting by The Related Press.

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