Two of the most recognizable faces in the NFL, one on offense and one on defense, saw their seasons cut short due to ACL injuries on Sunday.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Green Bay Packers defensive end Micah Parsons will miss the remainder of the NFL season having both suffered anterior cruciate ligament tears in their left knees. Mahomes suffered the injury while rolling out to his right and being tackled low as you threw the ball, while Parsons tore his ACL after stepping awkwardly while attempting to rush the passer. You can see video of both injuries below.
Dr. Silverman Comments
These are just the next injuries in a long line of ACL injuries to NFL stars this year. We already saw Malik Nabers and Michael Penix Jr. have their seasons cut short by ACL tears, and now two of the biggest names in the game in Mahomes and Parsons have their seasons end because of an ACL tear.
Your ACL, along with other ligaments in your knee, play a vital role in stabilizing the knee joint and preventing excessive movement in different directions. You can clearly see what an ACL is designed to protect against when Mahomes tore his ACL, as a knee is not supposed to buckle in that manner. It plays a pivotal role in limiting excessive rotational movement and is essential during activities like running, jumping and changing direction, all movements that NFL stars rely on every time they step on the field.
For the longest time, the conventional thought was that it takes anywhere form 8-12 months to fully recover following an ACL tear and a reconstructive procedure, but modern medicine has shifted this perspective. While the pair are certainly done for the year, there’s a very high likelihood that both of these players are back on the field for Week 1 in 2026. That’s roughly 9 months from right now, which puts them at the early end of that 8-12 month window. Even though they are trying to return at a professional level of competition, that 9-month timetable isn’t unrealistic.
In fact, we’ve seen many athletes beat that timetable. Adrian Peterson tore his ACL in December of 2011 and returned the next season to rush for over 2,000 yards, and some lesser-known athletes have even beaten that benchmark. Amari Rodgers returned to the field less than 25 weeks after tearing his ACL (March tear, September return), and Seahawks linebacker Jordyn Brooks returned to the field less than eight months after his ACL tear. Both Mahomes and Parsons stand to have their ACLs repaired one month prior to when Brooks had his repaired (January 19), so it stands to reason that a successful surgery and a commitment to a dedicated rehab program should see them return to the field to open the NFL season next year.
So while Chiefs and Packers fans may be sad about the shape of their 2025 season, they should be optimistic that, barring a setback, both of their stars should be fully healthy when next season rolls around. We’ll keep tabs on their operation and recovery as they attempt to make their way back. We wish them all the best in their recovery.