One day after surgery repaired his torn ACL and LCL from the Chiefs' playoff-ending loss to the Chargers, Patrick Mahomes has started rehab with a projected nine-month recovery. Travis Kelce shared emotional reflections on his podcast, amid a wave of additional team injuries.
Building on the knee injury sustained in the closing moments of Kansas City’s Week 15 defeat to the Los Angeles Chargers—which ended their decade-long playoff streak—and reactions including Tom Brady's rehab advice, Mahomes underwent successful surgery Monday night in Dallas by Dr. Dan Cooper. Chiefs VP of sports medicine Rick Burkholder confirmed the procedure went well, estimating a nine-month recovery that could see Mahomes back for Week 1 of the 2026 season around September 10.
The two-time MVP showed immediate resolve, attacking rehab within an hour post-game per coach Andy Reid. Backup Gardner Minshew will start the final three games, beginning Sunday at Tennessee.
Travis Kelce, emotional after the loss, detailed his devastation on the December 17 'New Heights' podcast: 'It's never easy seeing your guys go down... And on a freakish play to see one five go down like that, man, it f------, it was almost like it wasn't real.' He hailed Mahomes as a 'fearless warrior' and stressed finishing the season with integrity, deferring retirement talks.
Compounding woes, the Chiefs held no practice participation Wednesday for WRs Rashee Rice and Tyquan Thornton (concussion protocol), LT Jaylon Moore (knee), RT Jawaan Taylor (elbow), CB Trent McDuffie (knee), and LB Leo Chenal (shoulder) as they prepare to regroup.