Why the former Pro Bowl QB wants Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes to sit out the 2026 season originally appeared on The Sporting News. Click here to add Sports News as your go-to source.
Ever since Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL on Sunday, we’ve heard he hopes to return to action as soon as possible.
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Week 1 is a very real opportunity for Patrick, who has had surgery and is rehabbing.
But this isn’t an injury you want to rush into, as we’ve seen players come back too early and end up in disaster.
For former quarterback Robert Griffin II, who suffered the same injury as Patrick and returned the next season and was never the same for the rest of his career, he understands the injury better than most.
Speaking on “The Dan Patrick Show,” Griffin offered some advice to Mahomes and Micah Parsons, both of whom are targeting their first week back from ACL injuries.
“The number one piece of advice I would give to Micah Parsons and Patrick Mahomes right now is don’t play next year,” Griffin said. “It’s because of the timing of their injury. If they’re ready in Week 1, it’s going to be nine months for them. But you don’t really feel yourself until about 15 months after the injury.”
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“I would suggest they sit out next season because they’re injured, and then once they’re fully healthy you can play another 10-15 years. Do I think that’s going to happen? No, the only person who can protect them is the team.”
More:Chiefs’ Matt Nagy reveals true feelings about Patrick Mahomes’ ACL injury
Why Mahomes should take Griffin’s advice
It’s admirable that Mahomes wants to return in Week 1, but if anyone is qualified to talk about how an ACL injury affects your position playing quarterback, it’s RG3.
Given Mahomes’ penchant for extending plays, running around and doing things others can’t, he needs to be fully healthy and confident in his knees.
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Griffin said most people don’t return to normal until about 15 months after the injury. Considering Mahomes’ age, taking a year off to get healthy wouldn’t be the worst thing, and he likely has another decade of football left in him.
But if he pushes the envelope, comes back early, doesn’t look like himself, has his game affected, and (fingers crossed) gets injured again, then that’s nightmare fuel.
It feels like a smart move. Will it happen? I think we know the answer.
