Patrick Mahomes Injury Update: Chiefs QB Set for Return After ACL and LCL Tear
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is poised to make his highly anticipated return to the field after suffering a devastating knee injury late in the 2025 season. The three-time Super Bowl champion tore both his ACL and LCL in a Week 15 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on December 14, 2025, marking the first major injury of his illustrious career. The injury occurred when Mahomes scrambled out of the pocket with less than two minutes remaining in a 16-13 defeat that officially eliminated the Chiefs from playoff contention for the first time since 2014. The dual ligament tear—two of the four major stabilizing ligaments in the knee—required extensive rehabilitation, but Mahomes has attacked his recovery with the same determination that has defined his career.
According to a July 22, 2026 report from Sports Illustrated, Mahomes is expected to be fully cleared for training camp, and he remains hopeful for a Week 1 return. The Chiefs open training camp on July 24 at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, Missouri, where Mahomes will officially report ready to go. Fans tuning into the Chiefs’ season opener against the Denver Broncos will likely hear announcers discuss Mahomes’ injury extensively, but the focus will also be on his remarkable resilience. Despite the severity of the injury, Mahomes has refused to let it slow him down, and his recovery timeline has been nothing short of impressive.
On Thursday, Mahomes admitted that the doctors have been holding him back a bit in his rehab because he’s been pushing so hard. “I’ve been trying to get back out there as fast as possible, but the medical staff has done a great job of keeping me in check,” Mahomes said. “I trust them, and I know I’ll be ready when it counts.” The Chiefs organization and fans alike are eagerly awaiting his return, as his presence on the field transforms the team into a Super Bowl contender. With training camp just around the corner, all eyes will be on Mahomes as he takes the next step in his comeback journey.
Shimanta Das 
