Every step Patrick Mahomes takes is under a microscope, but a recent public appearance just gave a sports doctor the clearest view yet of his recovery timeline. The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback is taking a step back from football for now. His appearance came at the Big 12 men's conference tournament last week, leading to a board-certified surgeon, Yair Kissin, assessing his recovery.
"In the video Mahomes appears to be limping a little, which is not unheard of at 3 months postop," Kissin wrote after watching Mahomes attend last week's Big 12 tournament in Kansas City . "He's not using a walking aid which is great to see and he's fully weightbearing. He's a little stiff when he sat down but that's only because we are looking at him through a lens of recovery. We all sit down like that sometimes. I don't see anything unusual."
For a player who has spent eight seasons throwing, scrambling, and extending plays, this phase looks very different. Back in December 2025, against the Los Angeles Chargers , Mahomes suffered what is considered the most significant injury of his career.
Late in that game on December 14, he went down with a torn ACL and LCL. The injury not only ended Kansas City's playoff hopes but also raised immediate questions about his availability for the start of the 2026 season. Mahomes, meanwhile, admitted that he's nothing but ready to start in Week 1.
"I want to be ready for Week 1. The doctors said I could," Mahomes said in January 2026, "but I can't predict what happens throughout the process. That's the goal, to play Week 1 and have no restrictions. You want to be out there healthy and give us the best chance to win. I hope to do some things in OTAs and training camp and be able to do things there."
Realistically, injuries of this nature typically require nine to twelve months for a full return. Given that Mahomes suffered the injury in mid-December, a return during the 2026 season is very much on track. The only real question is whether Week 1 is a realistic target without rushing the process.
KANSAS CITY, MO – DECEMBER 14: Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes 15 throws a pass in the third quarter of an NFL, American Football Herren, USA game between the Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs on December 14, 2025 at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO. Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire NFL: DEC 14 Chargers at Chiefs EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon2512141015
As things stand, the 2026 season might begin around September 10, with the Chiefs set to open shortly after. For now, Mahomes continues his rehab in Kansas City under the supervision of physical therapist Julie Frymyer.
In his report, Kissin, a vice chair of orthopedics at the Hackensack University Medical Center, also weighed in on the possible surgical approach used in Mahomes' recovery.
"He likely had ACL surgery using his own tissue, rather than a cadaver graft taken from the patella and patellar tendon, but that is not confirmed," the doctor said. "This type of procedure would be a little more painful in the first few months than if he had a different graft, but that's the best choice for NFL players in general."
Even with that added difficulty, there are encouraging signs. The fact that Mahomes is already moving without assistance offers some optimism about his timeline.
"Knowing me, I'm going to push it to the exact limit every single day," Mahomes said earlier. "There's places you can't go yet. You want to, but you can't go yet. And they're doing it for a reason. It starts with Dr. Cooper and his team, and Julie and the training room."
While his availability for Week 1 remains uncertain, one thing is clear for now: Mahomes is expected to miss the offseason workouts that begin after the NFL Draft. That said, Kansas City has already prepared for that scenario by adding a backup option at quarterback.
The Chiefs have dealt with instability at the backup quarterback spot behind Patrick Mahomes for the past few seasons. Names like Chad Henne , Blaine Gabbert , Carson Wentz , and most recently, Gardner Minshew have all cycled through that role. And just days ago, Minshew also moved on , signing a one-year deal with the Arizona Cardinals .
That opened the door for Kansas City to address the position again. And this time, the Chiefs traded for Justin Fields from the New York Jets , sending a 2027 sixth-round pick in return. As part of the deal, the Jets will cover $3 million of Fields' $10 million guaranteed salary. Kansas City, meanwhile, will take on the rest.
With the trade now finalized, Fields is expected to handle a significant share of the offseason reps, especially with Mahomes still rehabbing. For now, Mahomes has made his intention clear that he wants to be ready for Week 1 of the 2026 season.
At the same time, Fields remains a realistic option to start if needed. Any setback in Mahomes' recovery could shift the timeline, which puts added importance on Fields' role heading into the season.
As for his recent form, Fields arrives in Kansas City following a difficult year with the Jets. After signing a two-year, $40 million deal, he went 2-7 across nine starts before missing time due to injury.
During that stretch, he threw for 1,259 yards with a 62.7 percent completion rate, along with seven touchdowns and one interception, while also being benched multiple times.
The rest of the league is wrestling with its own quarterback injury drama. Michael Penix Jr . remains on the mend from his ACL surgery, prompting questions about whether he'll ever firmly hold a QB1 role. That uncertainty helped open a door for veteran Tua Tagovailoa , now with the Falcons and competing for a starter spot.
Many also have an eye out for Tyreek Hill 's recovery from his own major knee injury with torn ligaments, including his ACL, and the reunion buzz it could spark in 2026.
Now, he gets a fresh start in Kansas City. Whether that opportunity turns into a regular-season start will depend on two things: how he performs through the offseason and, more importantly, how Mahomes progresses in his recovery.
