Draymond Green’s Sobering Advice for Patrick Mahomes: Don’t Rush Recovery

Warriors’ Power Forward Issues Warning After Chiefs Quarterback’s ACL, LCL Tears

In a bombshell warning to Kansas City Chiefs fans, three-time Super Bowl champion Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors has advised they should not expect to see Patrick Mahomes on the field next season following his season-ending knee injury.

Mahomes, who tore his ACL and LCL on Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers, is now facing a grueling 10-to-12-month recovery process, according to Green. Although some athletes return in as little as six or eight months, Green emphasized the average recovery timeline.

“People tend to forget. You live that injury every day. You want to play with your kids, you live that injury. You get up off the couch, you live that injury. It impacts your way of life.” – Draymond Green

Green: The Investment in Mahomes is Too Big to Rush Recovery

Green, who has not played organized football since 2011, pointed to Mahomes’ contract to suggest the quarterback may miss all of 2026. “He’s got another 10 years of football,” Green said. “So are you rushing back on five, six months? The investment in that guy is too big for that.”

With Mahomes’ return uncertain, the Chiefs may have to rely on experienced backup Gardner Minshew for an extended period. Minshew, 29, has several years in the league and earned a Pro Bowl nod with the Indianapolis Colts in 2023.

‘He’s a competitor, he’s a champion, so he’s going to do all he can to get back next year,’ Green said. ‘But I think people tend to forget that you’re not just missing games or missing practice. You live that injury every day.’

Green’s former teammate, Klay Thompson, tore his ACL in the 2019 NBA Finals and later tore his Achilles tendon while rehabbing, sitting out for over 900 days in total.

Chiefs’ QB Situation in 2026 Uncertain as Mahomes Recovers

• The Chiefs’ postseason hopes for 2025 have dimmed with Mahomes out.
• Green believes the investment in Mahomes should ensure a cautious recovery rather than a rushed return.
• Gardner Minshew, an experienced backup, could start for the Chiefs in 2026 if Mahomes’ recovery takes longer than expected.

Green’s advice serves as a sobering reminder of the lengthy recovery process faced byMahomes and the uncertainty surrounding the Chiefs’ quarterback situation in 2026.