What an awful way for the season to effectively end for the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs lost 16-13 to the rival Los Angeles Chargers, and thanks to help around the league, they were officially eliminated from playoff contention for the first time in over 10 years. As if that didn't sting enough, they saw their best player suffer what appeared to be a serious knee injury.
Late in the fourth quarter, Mahomes took a hit from the Chargers, and grabbed his left knee in serious pain. Mahomes had to be helped to the locker room, limping gingerly with a towel covering his head. Andy Reid hinted during the post game press conference that they believed Mahomes was dealing with a serious injury.
An MRI hours after the game confirmed the severity. According to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports, Mahomes suffered a torn ACL, effectively ending his season. Given that the injury happened late in the season, there is a fear that Mahomes' recovery could stretch into the 2026 season.
Breaking: Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL in his left knee, an MRI confirmed. He is out for the remainder of the season. @NFLonCBS
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) December 15, 2025
Patrick Mahomes tears ACL: How much time could he miss in 2026?
For a torn ACL, the normal recovery timeline is around nine months, but there are other factors. Mahomes and the Chiefs likely won't know the full severity of the injury until he undergoes surgery. Speaking of, Mahomes and the Chiefs are currently exploring surgical options. Not to mention, there are factors as to how Mahomes' knee recovers from the surgery. So, you're dealing with a bunch of variables.
When it comes to quarterbacks who recovered from torn ACLs and when they returned, one who suffered an injury late in the season like Mahomes is Kyler Murray of the Arizona Cardinals. Back in December 2022, Murray tore his ACL in the Cardinals' game against the New England Patriots. Murray wouldn't get activated onto the 53-man roster until that following November.
Another example is Carson Wentz, who tore his ACL during the 2017 season in a December game against the Los Angeles Rams. Wentz missed the first three games of the 2018 season before returning.
So there's no set timetable for Mahomes return. It all depends on the severity of the ligament damage in the knee and how he recovers from surgery. It might take a bit for the Chiefs fanbase to get a clearer picture if Mahomes could miss some of the 2026 season.