Star quarterback Patrick Mahomes could apparently be back playing for the Kansas City Chiefs at the start of next season if his knee surgery heals well.

“His injury was completely repairable, correctable, and was repaired on Monday evening,” said Rick Burkholder, vice president of sports medicine and performance for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Mahomes has already begun rehabilitation in Dallas. The three-time Super Bowl champion was injured on Sunday shortly before the end of the home game against the Los Angeles Chargers (13-16).

The defeat means that the Chiefs have missed the National Football League (NFL) playoffs for the first time since 2014/15.

Mahomes: Lateral ligament also likely affected

According to media reports, Mahomes underwent surgery in Dallas not only on his anterior cruciate ligament, but also on his lateral ligament, which is also believed to have been affected.

Burkholder emphasized that the recovery time for Mahomes’ injury is usually around nine months, but that there are variations. “Every player is different, every sport is different, every position is different,” the official said. Experience has shown that Mahomes works so hard “that he’ll make it a little faster.”

The next NFL season begins on September 10, 2026.