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Star quarterback Patrick Mahomes (30), a three-time NFL Super Bowl Most Valuable Player (MVP), was on the operating table due to a knee injury.
American media, including the Associated Press, reported on the 18th that Mahomes successfully completed left knee ligament replacement surgery in Dallas, Texas, citing an announcement from the Kansas City Chiefs. Mahomes suffered a serious injury during a game against the Los Angeles Chargers last week, rupturing both his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and lateral collateral ligament (LCL) in his knee.
Typically, these injuries take about 9 months to recover. The Kansas City team predicted that if Mahomes completes rehabilitation smoothly, he will be able to return to the field in time for the opening game of next season, scheduled for September 2026.
Rick Burkholder, Vice President of the Kansas City Club, explained, “The speed of recovery varies from player to player, but if Mahomes is thoroughly self-managed, he will be able to return in around 9 months,” adding, “He is a player who is more active in rehabilitation than anyone else.”
Coach Andy Reid also said, “Mahomes has a positive mindset,” and “his will is so strong that he wanted to play again even immediately after the injury.”
With Mahomes out for the season, defending champion Kansas City’s challenge for this season also came to a halt. Kansas City, which had recently dominated the Super Bowl for three consecutive years and reigned as the strongest team in the NFL, failed to advance to the playoffs due to the aftermath of losing its starting quarterback. This ended Kansas City’s 10-year streak of advancing to the playoffs.
Kansas City is in 3rd place in the AFC West with 6 wins and 8 losses. Kansas City will play the remaining three games of the season with backup quarterback Gardner Minshew.
