Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has confirmed that quarterback Patrick Mahomes will seek a second opinion on his torn left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) before undergoing surgery, raising doubts over his availability for the start of the 2026 season.
Mahomes sustained the injury during Sunday's 16-13 defeat to the Los Angeles Chargers, a result that ended the Chiefs' hopes of reaching the play-offs for the first time since 2014. The two-time NFL Most Valuable Player was spun to the ground while attempting to keep the team's postseason dreams alive.
The 30-year-old is scheduled to see Dr Dan Cooper, a highly regarded orthopaedic surgeon and team physician for the Dallas Cowboys, before the procedure. Reid stated that Mahomes is in a good place mentally but feels he has let people down. The recovery period for an ACL tear typically ranges from six to twelve months, depending on the severity of the injury and whether any other damage occurred within the knee.
Reid pointed to successful recoveries by other quarterbacks, including Cincinnati Bengals' Joe Burrow, who tore his ACL and MCL in November 2020 and returned to play the following season, earning the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award. Indianapolis Colts' Daniel Jones also returned to start Week 1 after tearing his right ACL in November 2023.
The Chiefs currently have no other quarterback under contract for next season, making the final three games of this campaign a potential audition for veteran backup Gardner Minshew. Minshew finished Sunday's loss after Mahomes exited, completing three consecutive passes before throwing an interception intended for Travis Kelce that effectively ended the contest. Reid expressed confidence in both Minshew and third-stringer Chris Oladokun.
In a separate development, Green Bay Packers pass rusher Micah Parsons also tore his ACL during Sunday's loss to the Denver Broncos. Parsons took to social media on Monday to declare that he is not defeated and trusts God's plan for his recovery.
