Ayoosh Pareek, MD,  sports medicine surgeon at HSS sheds light on San Francisco 49ers  wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk's recovery timeline after tearing his ACL and MCL.

According to Dr. Pareek, for ACL injuries, pro athletes typically aim to return within 9-12 months. MCL injuries, especially minor ones like sprains or partial tears, often show up with ACL tears but usually don't change the return-to-play timeline. Most of the time, MCL injuries heal with rehab alone, and players can stay on track for recovery. However, in cases where the MCL tear is more severe and needs surgery, the process can take longer—adding 1-3 months to the return to sport timeline. That timeline can shift depending on factors like the player’s position, surgical variability, and individual rehab progress. If both the ACL and MCL need surgery, it makes recovery more complex, and some of the usual milestones, like running or cutting drills, might get delayed. Fortunately, surgery for the MCL is less common, which helps keep most players on the standard recovery path.

Read the full article at si.com.