Wasting no time after getting knocked out of the Kansas City Chiefs’ game on Sunday, quarterback Patrick Mahomes had his injured left knee surgically repaired Monday evening.
The team wrote in a statement, “Patrick Mahomes successfully underwent surgery in Dallas this evening with Dr. Dan Cooper to repair the tear in his left ACL. Mahomes will begin his rehab process immediately.”
Multiple media outlets reported that the operation also repaired a torn lateral collateral ligament, though the team didn’t reference that in its statement.
Earlier Monday, Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Mahomes would visit Cooper in Dallas and then attack his plan for surgery and recovery.
Mahomes was injured running away from pressure Sunday when he was hit on his left leg from behind by pursuing Los Angeles Chargers defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand.
“I’ve had a good visit with him a couple of different times. He’s in a good place,” Reid said Monday of Mahomes. “He feels like he let people down, but he’s ready for the challenge ahead, which is what’s real right now. He’s just got to get through surgery, wherever it might be, and move on from there.”
Typical recovery from ACL reconstruction would likely put the Chiefs in position to need another quarterback next year, at the very least as insurance Mahomes will not be available for the start of the regular season.
Gardner Minshew entered the Sunday game when Mahomes was injured and was driving the Chiefs for a potential game-tying field goal when his pass intended for tight end Travis Kelce was intercepted. The Chargers closed out a 16-13 win that eliminated Kansas City from playoff contention.
Reid said Monday he has a “ton of confidence” Minshew can do the job. Backup Chris Oladokun, 28, has been on the practice squad since 2022.
–Field Level Media
