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Patrick Mahomes Tears Left ACL as Chiefs Miss Playoffs, Surgery Expected This Week

Doctors call a 2026 return realistic, with no major additional ligament damage reported, though Week 1 remains unclear.

Overview

  • An MRI confirmed a torn ACL in Mahomes’ left knee, ending his 2025 season; he is seeking a second opinion in Dallas with surgery expected this week.
  • Coach Andy Reid said scans showed no major damage to other ligaments and expressed confidence in a relatively quick recovery depending on surgery and rehab.
  • Medical specialists describe typical ACL recoveries of roughly 8–12 months, leaving Mahomes’ availability for the 2026 opener uncertain.
  • Kansas City’s 16–13 loss to the Chargers eliminated the team from playoff contention for the first time since 2014, with Gardner Minshew finishing at quarterback.
  • Video analysis points to a likely non-contact mechanism as Mahomes’ left knee buckled on planting, while the team faces offseason decisions including Travis Kelce’s March timeline and a lack of QB depth under contract behind Mahomes.