Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes targeting bold goal at start of injury rehab

A report from earlier in the week hinted that Kansas City Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes wants to start the team's 2026 regular-season opener next September after he underwent successful surgery on Dec. 15 to repair the torn ACL and torn LCL that he suffered the previous day. 

While speaking with reporters on Wednesday, Chiefs vice president of sports medicine and performance Rick Burkholder suggested that the club hasn't closed the door on such a quick return to action for the three-time Super Bowl champion.

What is "ballpark" for Patrick Mahomes' return?

"Every player is different," Burkholder explained, per Dave Skretta of the Associated Press. "Every sport is different. Every position is different. (Mahomes) is so in tune to what he does, he does it a little quicker. Ballpark on this is nine months, but it could be a month or two more, a month or two less."

NFL Media's Ian Rapoport previously said that Mahomes' rehab was expected to last "nine months or so." Later in the week, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce mentioned that Mahomes would attack his rehab as a "fearless warrior" and "make sure that he comes back stronger than ever."

What is Patrick Mahomes' mindset early into his rehab?

The Chiefs were eliminated from the playoffs via a loss to the Los Angeles Chargers and had Mahomes' injury added to that insult on the afternoon of Dec. 14. On Wednesday, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid shared that he's spoken with Mahomes each day since the Chargers game. 

"He’s so positive right now," Reid said about Mahomes. "Like Rick said, he attacked this thing the day of. You wouldn’t expect anything less. 'Get me up, get me going,' he’s basically saying, an hour after the game. 'Brace me up and let me go.' It’s not one of those injuries, obviously, but that’s his mindset. I think he’ll do great with the rehab. He’s a pretty fast healer that way. And his attitude is 90% of things, how you go about it. How you’re willing to push through the pain to get right."

Mahomes clearly is "willing to push through the pain" early into his recovery. That said, his status for Week 1 of the 2026 season will be up in the air for the foreseeable future.