Latest News on Patrick Mahomes' Timeline to Return to Chiefs After Knee Injury

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes' status for the start of the 2026 NFL regular season is uncertain after tearing his ACL and LCL this past weekend.

According to Sam McDowell of the Kansas City Star, Chiefs Vice President of Sports Medicine and Performance Rick Burkholder said Wednesday that Mahomes' return timeline is nine months, but "it could be a month or two less or a month or two longer."

Mahomes injured his knee late in the Chiefs' 16-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 15, and the loss dropped KC to 6-8, thus eliminating the team from playoff contention for the first time since 2014.

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The Chiefs announced that Mahomes underwent successful knee surgery on Monday, just one day after suffering the injury.

If his return timeline ends up being exactly nine months, Mahomes could return at or near the start of the 2026 season, but that assumes there aren't any setbacks or other issues.

Burkholder also noted that it is possible Mahomes beats the nine-month timeline, though, meaning it isn't completely outside the realm of possibility that he is ready for Week 1.

The one certainty is that Mahomes will not play for the rest of this season, and the Chiefs have little to play for over their final three games now that they have been eliminated from playoff contention.

With journeyman quarterback Gardner Minshew in line to start the last three games, a 6-11 finish is possible, which would mark the Chiefs' worst record since going 2-14 in 2012.

The one positive takeaway is that the Chiefs should have their best draft pick in many years, and that could help them reload the roster more quickly and efficiently than usual.

Also, the Mahomes injury could potentially compel the front office to be more aggressive in securing a quality supporting cast through free agency, trades and the draft.

Improving the running game with some additions to the backfield and the offensive line may very well be Kansas City's top priority this coming offseason.

The Chiefs would perhaps also be wise to bring in a capable, veteran quarterback just in case Mahomes' absence leaks into the 2026 campaign.