Patrick Mahomes injured his knee during the Dec. 14 Kansas City Chiefs match against the Los Angeles Chargers. Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Yair Kissin talks to PEOPLE about the quarterback's torn ACL and possible recovery timeline.

"A typical ACL recovery timeline is at least 12 months and very often can take longer than that," Tommy Mandala, DPT, of All in ACL tells Men's Journal. "While nine months is the absolute minimum that an athlete should return to their sport, the reality is that most athletes are not ready to pass return to sport criteria at that time."

With the Packers facing a possible ACL tear for Micah Parsons, here’s a look at other recent NFL players to suffer the injury and when they returned.

As Patrick Mahomes begins rehab after an ACL injury and the Chiefs’ playoff elimination, Tom Brady detailed the demanding process he once faced himself.

The NFL has implemented rule changes in recent seasons aimed at reducing lower-body injuries, including the ban on hip-drop tackles. Still, experts say the nature of the sport, built on speed, power, and rapid changes in direction, means ACL injuries remain a risk.

An ACL tear requires quite a long recovery process. Right now, Parsons is expected to be ready to return in September, just in time for the 2026 season. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who drafted Parsons into the league in 2021, knows what this recovery process takes as he’s witnessed a multitude of his players go through it over the years.

The Green Bay Packers have to finish out the 2025 season without their most important defensive player, as star pass rusher Micah Parsons suffered a torn ACL during their Week 15 loss to the Denver Broncos, according to NFL Media. He reportedly faces a nine-month recovery, at least.