Patrick Mahomes built different - may return much sooner than expected, NFL insider says
After suffering both an ACL and LCL tear at the end of the 2025 season, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes could already be ready to start next season.
There’s good news emerging for the Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City Chiefs heading into the 2026 season. The two‑time league MVP could be back on the field sooner than previously projected, even after suffering a season‑ending torn ACL and LCL last year.
Patrick Mahomes will be ready by Week 1 but could be back on on an NFL field sooner, according to NFL Insider @JayGlazer ⏰
— Chiefstalk (@Chiefstalk_) March 6, 2026
Glazer says that when it comes to his recovery, Mahomes is just different and heals differently 👀
A return to the field during training camp and pre… pic.twitter.com/DgME9ENUeo
ACL? LCL? No problem: Mahomes’ recovery timeline surprises NFL experts
That’s the assessment from veteran NFL insider Jay Glazer, who appeared on the The Dan Patrick Show this week and offered a strong vote of confidence in Mahomes’ recovery, suggesting he’s trending well ahead of expectations thanks to an elite rehab effort and a rare ability to tolerate pain and push progress.
“His pain threshold is different, his work ethic is different,” Glazer said. “At first they were like, ‘start of the season,’ I would probably hedge on him being (back on the field) sooner than that. By far.”
That’s significant praise and a hopeful sign for Chiefs fans still reeling from what was one of the most devastating injuries of the 2025 season.
Mixed anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and lateral collateral ligament (LCL) tears are among the most serious injuries in sports, often requiring a nine‑month to full year recovery window before athletes can return to elite competition.
Mahomes underwent surgery in December 2025, performed by Dr. Dan Cooper, the longtime Dallas Cowboys team physician after the injury occurred. But according to Glazer, Mahomes didn’t wait long after the operation. He was already in the Chiefs’ training room doing rehab within days.
“He got it before it swelled up… I believe it was either Thursday or Friday that week that he was already in the Chiefs’ training room doing rehab,” Glazer said. “He had already got his knee bending at 90 degrees at that point.”
That aggressive start and the rapid progress have led insiders to believe that Mahomes could be ready much earlier than most players coming off similar injuries.
In the 2025 season before the injury, Mahomes was still one of the league’s top playmakers, throwing 22 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions in 14 games, while adding 422 rushing yards and five touchdowns on the ground. He was directing a high‑octane Chiefs offense that, when healthy, is widely regarded as one of the league’s most dynamic.
Mahomes’ combination of intelligence, athleticism and leadership has made him the centerpiece of Kansas City’s title window for years, and his early presence, even if not Week 1, would immediately lift the franchise’s championship expectations.
The Chiefs organization has been careful not to publicly rush projections, emphasizing health and safety first. But there’s no denying Mahomes’ reputation, both as a competitor and a worker, precedes him. His approach to rehab so far aligns with how he has played throughout his career, with intensity, intelligence and an unrelenting drive to win.
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