Patrick Mahomes’ Knee Injury Ordeal Raises Serious Questions

At the time, the injury looked traumatic. But us ball-knowers knew the secret all along: quarterbacks have historically recovered from ACL surgery better than almost every other position.

Quarterbacks Recover Differently, Including Patrick Mahomes

One study examined 13 NFL quarterbacks who underwent ACL reconstruction involving 14 injured knees. Twelve of the 13 quarterbacks returned to the NFL, with 13 of the 14 reconstructed knees making it back onto the field. Their post-injury performance was also not significantly different from their pre-injury level.

Now, what percentage of players with an injury closer to Mahomes’ returned to the same level?

About 18.5% of NFL players with ACL injuries involving the PCL or LCL returned to their previous performance level, per a 2018 study. That sounds terrifying until you look deeper. The study included players from every position, including running backs, receivers, and defensive backs whose jobs depend heavily on leg-dependent exertions. Only four quarterbacks were included in that specific injury group, making it difficult to apply the overall percentage directly to Mahomes.

A quarterback still needs his legs, especially one who creates as much out of structure as Mahomes, given he’s a dual threat. He does not have to at the same level as other positions, however. His arm talent is not affected by knee surgery. 

This Conundrum Has Happened Before To Others

Tom Brady tore his ACL and MCL in 2008, returned the following season and continued playing at an elite level for more than a decade.

Joe Burrow returned from ACL and MCL damage and reached the Super Bowl during his first season back. Deshaun Watson also returned from a torn ACL and produced Pro Bowl-level seasons with the Houston Texans.

None of those cases is an exact match for Mahomes’ ACL-and-LCL injury, but they show that major knee damage does not automatically end an elite quarterback’s career.

So why have fans been expecting the worst?

Accounts On X

Social media rewards rage bait. That’s no secret, especially when negativity produces more engagement than a normal rehabilitation update.

Posts from sports commentary accounts such as BrickCenter have presented Mahomes as a shell of his former self by highlighting rough camp reps while ignoring completed passes and normal practice footage. A quarterback missing one throw during camp is not proof that his mechanics are destroyed. Training camp is specifically where players are supposed to test their limits and work through mistakes.

Dov Kleiman’s post also circulated a cherry-picked video of Mahomes’ legs as evidence that something was wrong. But anyone who has followed his offseason photos knows his lower-body appearance has more or less always looked that way.

The more meaningful evidence is that Mahomes has been fully cleared for training camp, is participating without major restrictions and still has more than a month to build toward Week 1.

End Of My Mahomes Rant

There is currently far less reason to panic about Patrick Mahomes than social media would have people believe, and the fearmongering needs to slow down.

Great quarterbacks have suffered serious knee injuries and returned to the top of the league. Mahomes’ ACL-and-LCL tear is more complicated than an isolated ACL injury, so nobody can guarantee that every part of his mobility will immediately return. But the quarterback-specific history is far more encouraging than the viral clips suggest.

Whether we see another MVP-caliber and Super Bowl-winning season will depend on plenty of factors: his offensive line, receiving corps, protection, mechanics, and whether the Chiefs can keep him clean.

Based on the current medical clearance and the history of quarterbacks returning from ACL reconstruction, his recovery should not automatically be placed at the top of that list.