When it comes to professional athletes recovering from injuries, no news is usually good news.
That should bode well forKansas City ChiefsquarterbackPatrick Mahomes, who is working his way back from a torn ACL and LCL. WhenChiefshead coachAndy Reidspoke to reporters at the annual league meeting on March 31, he gave something of a there-is-no-update update on his star quarterback.
Asked about Mahomes' timeline to return from injury, Reid said he'll leave it to the medical team to determine whether or not the quarterback is "ahead of schedule" in his recovery.
"I'm going to defer to the experts on that," Reid said when asked if Mahomes would be limited for training camp. "So, if he's good to go, he'll go. If he's not, we'll manage that. So, we'll just cross it as we go. Everybody's different. Everybody heals different. Everybody's injuries are a little bit different. We don't have to put him in a category. We'll see, see where it goes."
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Reid added that it's been all "positive" for the passer during his rehab.
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1. Dak Prescott, Dallas CowboysPrescott's $60 million AAV makes him the highest-paid player in the NFL. The Dallas quarterback signed a four-year, $240 million deal with the Cowboys on the eve of the 2024 NFL season opener." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
T-2. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati BengalsBurrow also signed a deal with an AAV of $55 million, however his deal was for five years and $275 million. Burrow agreed to the extension with Cincinnati on Sept. 7, 2023." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
T-2. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville JaguarsLawrence signed his own five-year, $275 million dollar extension on June 13, 2024. His AAV is also $55 million." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
T-2. Josh Allen, Buffalo BillsAllen's $55-million AAV ties him with Love, Burrow and Lawrence, however the Bills quarterback's extension was for six years and $330 million." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
6. Tua Tagovailoa, Miami DolphinsWith an AAV of $53.1 million, Tagovailoa barely beats the next few players on this list. The Dolphins signed him to a four-year, $212.4 million extension on July 26, 2024." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
T-7. Jared Goff, Detroit LionsThe Lions rewarded Goff with a four-year, $212 million extension before the 2024 NFL season after he helped turn Detroit into a top contender in the NFC. His deal has an AAV of $53 million." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
T-7. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ersMr. Irrelevant in the 2022 NFL Draft shocked the world after taking over as the 49ers QB and turned his success into a five-year, $265 million contract on May 16, 2025. Purdy will earn an average of $53 million per season." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
9. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles ChargersHerbert earns an AAV of $52.5 million after he signed a five-year, $262.5 million extension with the Chargers before the 2023 NFL season." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
10. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore RavensJackson's average salary is $52 million thanks to the five-year, $260 million contract he signed on April 27, 2023." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
11. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia EaglesThe Super Bowl LIX MVP earns an average salary of $51 million. He signed a five-year, $255 million deal in April 2023 and has already paid off the Eagles' investment with a Super Bowl win." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
12. Micah Parsons, Green Bay PackersParsons became the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history after signing a four-year, $186 million extension following his trade from the Dallas Cowboys to the Packers. His AAV is $46.5 million." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
13. Kyler Murray, Arizona CardinalsMurray earns $46.1 million on average after he signed a five-year, $230.5 million deal on July 21, 2022." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
14. Deshaun Watson, Cleveland BrownsDespite playing just 19 games over three seasons with Cleveland, Watson's contract has an AAV of $46 million. He signed a five-year, $230 million contract after the Browns acquired him in a trade with the Houston Texans on March 18, 2022." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
T-15. Kirk Cousins, Atlanta FalconsCousins signed a four-year, $180 million deal with the Falcons before the 2024 NFL season. Despite losing the starting QB job to Michael Penix Jr., Cousins earns $45 million on average." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
T-15. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City ChiefsMahomes' 10-year, $450 million deal is the biggest contract in NFL history, despite his $45 million AAV ranking him 15th on this list." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
17. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles RamsThe Rams signed Stafford to a two-year, $84 million extension for an AAV of $42 million before the 2025 NFL season." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
18. T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh SteelersWatt signed a three-year, $123 million deal on July 17, 2025, to briefly make him the NFL's highest-paid non-quarterback before Micah Parson's extension with the Green Bay Packers. Watt earns an average salary of $41 million." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
19. Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati BengalsChase became the NFL's highest-paid wide receiver after signing a four-year, $161 million extension before the 2025 NFL season. His average salary is $40.25 million" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
20. Myles Garrett, Cleveland BrownsGarrett earns a $40 million AAV. The Browns defensive end signed a four-year, $160 extension on March 9, 2025." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
21. Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas RaidersCrosby also earned his big payday in March, signing a three-year, $106.5 million contract just four days before Garrett's extension. Crosby earns a $35.5 million AAV." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
22. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota VikingsJefferson signed a four-year, $140 million extension on June 3, 2024 to make him the NFL's highest-paid non-quarterback in history at the time. He earns $35 million on average." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
T-23. CeeDee Lamb, Dallas CowboysTwo months after Jefferson's deal, Lamb signed a four-year, $136 million extension with Dallas. Lamb's AAV is $34 million." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
25. Sam Darnold, Seattle SeahawksDarnold scored a payday with Seattle after a resurgent season with Minnesota in 2024. Darnold earns an AAV of $33.5 million after signing a three-year, $100.5 million contract on March 10, 2025." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
Highest paid NFL players 2025: See where Patrick Mahomes, Micah Parsons rank
1. Dak Prescott, Dallas CowboysPrescott's $60 million AAV makes him the highest-paid player in the NFL. The Dallas quarterback signed a four-year, $240 million deal with the Cowboys on the eve of the 2024 NFL season opener.
According to an article published byArthroscopy, recovery from an ACL tear "typically spans 9 to 12 months." The "return to sport" phase ranges from 6-12 months, with the 9-12 month range listed as a likely timeline for return to competition.
Mahomes tore his ACL and LCL on Dec. 14 during a Week 15 game against theLos Angeles Chargers. He underwent surgery to repair the ligaments in his knee the following day.
On March 25 – just over three months after his operation – Mahomes posted a video of himself throwing a football with a compression sleeve on his left leg.
