In the NFL regular season game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Chargers, the Chiefs lost to the Chargers 13-16, ending their playoff hopes with a current record of 6 wins and 8 losses. This marks the first time the Chiefs have missed the playoffs since the 2014 season.
In the final minute of the game, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, while rolling to his right to look for a passing opportunity, was tripped by Chargers defensive lineman Da'Shawn Hand after releasing the ball. Mahomes then clutched his knee and was helped off the field by medical staff. The Chiefs' head coach subsequently announced that the two-time regular season MVP and three-time Super Bowl MVP had suffered the most serious injury of his nine-year career – a torn left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) – and would miss the rest of the season. This also marked Mahomes' first time missing the playoffs.
Approximately 90 minutes later, Mahomes himself spoke out on X (formerly Twitter), telling fans that he "didn't know why this happened" and that it "really hurts." He ended his post with a meaningful statement: "I'll come back stronger," hinting at an extended absence.
[Injury Record]
Since becoming a starter after being drafted in the first round in 2017, Patrick Mahomes has led his team to the AFC Championship Game for seven consecutive years and ended a 50-year Super Bowl championship drought in the 2019 season. The 30-year-old Mahomes is practically synonymous with "iron man," having missed very few games due to injury throughout his career:
In 2019, he missed two consecutive weeks due to a dislocated kneecap;
In the 2020 divisional round, Mahomes suffered a concussion and was temporarily sidelined;
In the 2022 playoffs, Mahomes played through a high ankle sprain;
At the end of last season, he also suffered an ankle injury, but did not miss any games because of it.
[When will he return?]
Based on the current recovery progress of his ACL injury, and assuming no further complications, Mahomes is generally expected to recover and return to the field in approximately 9 months. If the recovery process encounters complications, there is a possibility that he could be placed on the PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) list at the beginning of the 2026 season.
When do you think Mahomes will recover from his injury and return to play?
