Quarterback health will play a major role in shaping the 2026 NFL season, with several expected starters returning from significant injuries ranging from ACL and Achilles tears to major ankle and knee surgeries. While some quarterbacks have already been fully cleared for training camp, others enter the season with lingering questions about their mobility, durability and early-season workload. Here's the latest injury outlook from Pro Football Doc, recovery progress and SIC Health Scores for the NFL quarterbacks with the biggest medical storylines heading into the 2026 season.
Patrick Mahomes - ACL & LCL - SIC Score 72
Patrick Mahomes has been fully cleared for training camp as he continues progressing ahead of schedule from the right knee injury that ended his 2025 season. According to Pro Football Doc, Mahomes still favors the knee slightly when rolling to his left, but his recovery is ahead of schedule and consistent with his reputation as a "quick healer." Mahomes previously avoided surgery despite a patellar dislocation and returned to lead the Chiefs to a Super Bowl LVIII victory while playing through a high ankle sprain. He will participate fully in training camp, with his availability for Week 1 expected to become clearer as he continues building confidence and workload on the recovering knee.
Pro Football Doc expects the Chiefs to take a cautious approach as Mahomes won't be 100% to start the season given his LCL and ACL tear (we see the residual problems from Rashee Rice LCL see below).
Some teams might be tempted to play their starting QB if he can be effective. Given the KC super bowl or bust mentality and the fact that they go as their superstar goes, we expect Chiefs to take a cautious approach for the start of the season. It is more important to avoid setback or other injury early. As long as Mahomes is there for the bulk of the season and at 100% for playoffs, that is the key.
Mahomes heads into the season with an SIC Health Score rating of 72.
Daniel Jones - Achilles - SIC Score 90
He took an encouraging step forward during May and June 2026 spring workouts, participating in 7-on-7 drills as he finishes a grueling rehabilitation from a torn right Achilles tendon. The devastating non-contact injury occurred during the first quarter of a Week 14 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars, abruptly ending a resurgent, career-best 2025 campaign in which he had the Colts rolling to an 8-2 start. Prior to the Achilles tear, Jones was already playing through a left fibula fracture sustained just after the team's Week 11 bye, which had noticeably hindered his elite pocket mobility.
After hitting all of his medical benchmarks this spring and signing a multi-year contract extension in March, Jones is expected to be fully cleared for 11-on-11 team drills at the start of training camp. We anticipate he will be ready for the start of the season, though the team may take a cautious approach with his workload. His running ability may not immediately return to pre-injury form, and because the Achilles injury was to his back push-off leg, his downfield accuracy will be worth monitoring early in the season.
Jones told Pat McAfee on Monday July 27th, that he has been fully cleared to participate in training camp.
Bo Nix - Right Ankle - SIC Score 88
Bo Nix is nearing a full return after suffering a fractured right ankle during the Broncos' Divisional Round victory over the Bills. The injury occurred on the game's third-to-last play and required immediate surgery. He later underwent a second procedure in April to remove bone spurs from the same ankle. The injury prevented Nix from playing in the AFC Championship Game after he had started all 17 regular-season games and led Denver to a 14-3 record and an AFC West title.
Nix progressed steadily throughout the offseason, advancing from no on-field work during early OTAs to limited participation by mandatory minicamp, where he was held out of 11-on-11 team drills. He is expected to receive full clearance for training camp and enter the season as Denver's franchise quarterback. The biggest questions will be how quickly his mobility returns and whether the missed offseason practice time impacts his early-season development and timing within the offense.
Michael Penix Jr. - Left ACL - SIC Score 71
Michael Penix Jr. enters the 2026 season continuing his recovery from a partially torn left ACL suffered in Week 11 of the 2025 campaign. The injury required reconstructive surgery in late November, and nearly seven months later he has steadily progressed through rehabilitation. During the Falcons' offseason program, Penix did not participate in full 11-on-11 team drills as part of his recovery plan, though he indicated he is on schedule despite not yet feeling 100%. He is expected to be fully cleared for the start of training camp, where he is anticipated to participate without restrictions.
It remains to be determined whether Penix begins the season on the PUP list. Regardless, Taulia Tagovailoa appears likely to receive an early opportunity to start while Penix completes his recovery. That uncertainty surrounding Penix's availability is reflected in his lowered SIC Score.
Deshaun Watson - Achilles - SIC Score 93
Deshaun Watson missed the entire 2025 season after suffering a re-rupture of his Achilles tendon, which originally tore during the 2024 season. The setback required a second corrective Achilles surgery in January 2025 and kept him sidelined for the entire year.
Watson has fully recovered from the injury and returned as a full participant during the Browns' mandatory minicamp, showing no physical limitations. Despite undergoing two Achilles surgeries, the recovery timeline has him healthy entering the season, and we expect Watson to be the Browns' Week 1 starter. He enters training camp healthy and will compete with Shedeur Sanders for Cleveland's starting quarterback job.
Baker Mayfield - Knee/Shoulders/Biceps - SIC Score 92
Mayfield battled a lengthy list of injuries during the 2025 season, playing through a sprained MCL and PCL from Week 2 onward, according to the third season of Quarterback on Netflix.
His reported injury list included:
Week 3: Foot/toe
Week 4: Right biceps
Week 5: Knee/right biceps
Week 8: Knee/oblique
Week 10: Knee/oblique
Week 12: Illness
Week 13: Left shoulder
Week 14: Left shoulder
Week 15: Left shoulder
Week 18: Right shoulder/knee
Despite the lengthy injury report, Mayfield was listed as questionable for only two games and played in both.
Mayfield absorbed plenty of punishment throughout the season. While the Netflix series revealed he sustained MCL and PCL sprains in Week 2, we did not identify those injuries on video, even in retrospect. SIC has never questioned Mayfield's toughness. We have previously documented him suffering a shoulder dislocation with the Browns, having it reduced on the sideline, and returning to finish the game. Throughout his career, Mayfield has consistently shown a willingness to play through injuries.
