Is Patrick Mahomes Injured? The Truth About His 2026 Comeback Path

It feels weird. For the first time in basically forever, we’re heading into the heart of January and Patrick Mahomes isn't preparing to dismantle a secondary in the divisional round. Instead, he’s in a training room. If you’ve been looking at the headlines lately and asking is patrick mahomes injured, the short answer is a definitive, painful yes.

The Chiefs’ superstar isn't just "banged up" like he was during that gutsy Super Bowl run against Philly. This is different. We are currently looking at the most significant physical hurdle of his professional career: a torn ACL and LCL in his left knee.

What happened in Week 15?

Honestly, the way it went down was brutal. It was late in the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chiefs were fighting for their playoff lives in a season that already felt "off" by their lofty standards. Mahomes was trying to do what he always does—make something out of nothing—when his knee gave out.

The diagnosis came fast. An MRI confirmed the dual tear. One day later, on December 15, 2025, Mahomes was already on an operating table in Dallas. Dr. Dan Cooper, a name very familiar to NFL fans for his work with high-profile athletes, performed the surgery.

Kansas City finished the year 6-11. They missed the playoffs for the first time since Mahomes took over the huddle. It’s a strange new reality for Chiefs Kingdom, and it all centers on that left knee.

Is Patrick Mahomes Injured for the 2026 Season?

The big question now isn't if he’s hurt—we know he is—but rather how long this lasts. Is he going to miss time in 2026?

Andy Reid recently spoke to the media on January 12, 2026, and he sounded surprisingly upbeat. He mentioned that Mahomes is already "grinding" through his rehab at the team facility. He’s staying in Kansas City this winter instead of heading back to Texas, primarily because he wants to work daily with Julie Frymyer. She’s the physical therapist who famously helped him navigate that high-ankle sprain a few years back.

The recovery timeline for a combined ACL and LCL reconstruction is typically pegged at nine months. If you do the math, that puts his return right at the start of September.

• Surgery Date: December 15, 2025
• The 9-Month Mark: September 15, 2026
• NFL Week 1: Expected around September 10, 2026

It’s going to be tight. Like, really tight.

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While the team is optimistic, experts like Rick Burkholder (the Chiefs' VP of sports medicine) have cautioned that every athlete heals differently. You’ve got to factor in not just the "healing" but the "performance" aspect. It’s one thing to walk; it’s another to evade a 300-pound defensive tackle.

The Bobby Stroupe Factor

If you follow Mahomes’ longtime trainer, Bobby Stroupe, on social media, you’ve probably seen the fire he’s been stoking. On January 7, he posted a throwback photo of Mahomes with a caption reminding everyone of the doubters who said Patrick would never be the same after his 2020 toe surgery.

Stroupe’s message was clear: Don’t bet against the guy.

There's a psychological element here too. Mahomes has never had a "lost" offseason like this. Usually, he's celebrating a parade or hosting passing camps. Now, his entire life is focused on leg extensions and range-of-motion drills. For a guy who lives to compete, that's a dangerous level of motivation.

Comparing Mahomes to Micah Parsons

Interestingly, Mahomes isn't the only star on this timeline. Micah Parsons also suffered an ACL tear right around the same time. However, reports from earlier this week suggest Mahomes might actually have a leg up—pun intended.

Because Mahomes went under the knife within 24 hours of the injury, he’s already three weeks into the "hard" part of rehab. Parsons delayed his surgery until late December. That two-week gap might seem small, but in NFL recovery terms, it’s the difference between starting Week 1 and starting the season on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list.

What this means for the Chiefs’ roster

The front office isn't just sitting around waiting. They know the risk. Even if Mahomes is "ready" for Week 1, he might not be the mobile, creative wizard we know for a few months.

1. Backup Security: Gardner Minshew finished the 2025 season, but his performance was a rollercoaster. Expect Brett Veach to look at veteran insurance like Russell Wilson or perhaps a young arm in the draft.
2. The Kelce Situation: Travis Kelce has been hinting at retirement. A Mahomes injury makes that decision even heavier. Does he want to spend his final year catching passes from a backup while his best friend rehabs?
3. Scheme Changes: If Mahomes is under center in September, expect a lot more quick-release passes. Andy Reid is a master at protecting his players. They’ll likely limit his deep drops and scrambles early on.

What you should expect next

So, is patrick mahomes injured? Yes, but he’s already ahead of the curve. He isn't out of the woods, and there’s a real chance he starts the 2026 season with some limitations.

Keep a close eye on the late-spring OTAs (Organized Team Activities). If we see Mahomes out there in a red jersey throwing—even if he isn't moving—it’s a massive win. If he’s still not on the field by training camp in July, that's when the "Week 1" panic should officially set in.

For now, the goal is simple.

• Track his progress through the March check-ups.
• Watch for any news on the Chiefs signing a high-level veteran backup.
• Monitor the NFL Draft to see if Kansas City takes a QB earlier than expected as a safety net.

Mahomes has built a career on defying the laws of physics. Now, he’s just trying to beat the clock.

Monitor the official Chiefs injury reports throughout the spring for updates on Mahomes' lateral movement drills, as these will be the first real indicators of his readiness for contact.