Chiefs reveal projected timeline for Patrick Mahomes' recovery
Mahomes underwent successful ACL, LCL surgery on Monday
The Chiefs have an unofficial timeline on quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who underwent surgery Monday evening in Dallas to repair ACL and LCL injuries to his left knee.
Head athletic trainer Rick Burkholder on Wednesday addressed the media to provide an update on Mahomes’ status.
“Every player is different, every sport is different, every position is different, and with him, traditionally he’s gone after it so hard and he’s so in tune with what he does that he does it a little quicker,” Burkholder said. “Ballpark on this thing is nine months, could be a month or two less, a month or two more.
“You never know what goes on and everybody is designed differently, biomechanically, and you just have to go through it. And he’s got position specific things that he needs to do.”
Burkholder said there wasn’t any nerve, artery and joint-surface damage to Mahomes’ knee, and the key at this early stage surrounds controlling the swelling and to get the muscles moving.
Mahomes, whom Burkholder said is wearing a protective brace, is expected to return to Kansas City to continue his recovery process at the end of the week.
“He’ll return here Friday and for the majority of the rehab, he’ll do it with my staff and in particular, Julie Frymyer,” Burkholder said.
The projected timeline means the earliest Mahomes could be back is training camp, on the optimistic side.
The farthest point when considering “a month or two more” falls between September-November.
Either way, the Chiefs anticipate Mahomes getting after the recovery process.
“As you know in the past with Patrick and his injuries, he attacks them and does really well, and he’s in that mode right now,” Burkholder said.
Coach Andy Reid agreed.
“He’s so positive right now,” Reid said. “Like Rick (Burkholder) said, he attacked this thing the day of. You wouldn’t expect anything less. ‘Get me up and get me going,’ he was basically saying that an hour after the game. … I think he’ll do great with the rehab; he’s a pretty fast healer that way.”
Mahomes suffered the injury late in the fourth quarter in Sunday’s 16-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.