Here's the latest on Patrick Mahomes' recovery timeline:
The short version: Mahomes is trending toward a Week 1 return against the Broncos (Sept 14), and everything is looking bullish.
The injury: Mahomes tore his ACL and LCL in December 2025, underwent surgery that same month. It was a multi-ligament injury, so the recovery is more complex than a standard ACL tear (from the Patrick Mahomes II page).
Where he's at now (mid-June 2026):
- He's progressed to 7-on-7 drills in team practice, wearing a black knee brace, and is hoping to advance to 11-on-11 and full contact work soon (from the Patrick Mahomes II page)
- Per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, he's been rehabbing 6-7 hours daily in Kansas City, throwing for a month, and is now entering the "cutting phase" (change-of-direction drills) — a critical test of knee stability
- He signed a landmark $504.75M extension through 2033, signaling the Chiefs' confidence in his long-term health
What the experts are saying:
On Late-Round Fantasy Football: "Everything about his rehab has been very bullish so far. He's participating in 7-on-7 right now… he literally hit the jugs machine before the game." —
Sal Vetri noted he's "on track to return Week 1 and not be on the PUP list," though cautioned that coaches tend to be optimistic this time of year. —
Establish The Run pointed out that Mahomes is actually falling in ADP (down to 92 overall), which surprised them given he participated in OTAs just 5.5 months post-injury. —
The caveat: Coach Andy Reid has refused to commit to a hard Week 1 timeline, and the team is being cautious — "protecting him against himself" as per Reid. But the gap between "cautious coach speak" and what we're seeing on the field is narrowing. Week 1 is the goal and it's looking increasingly realistic.