Brandon Aiyuk has a long and difficult rehab ahead of him.

Aiyuk recently tore his ACL and MCL — a devastating injury for any football player, but especially for a receiver who relies on speed and quickness.

To learn more about Aiyuk’s rehabilitation process, we spoke with Ayoosh Pareek MD, a sports medicine surgeon at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. HSS has physicians who serve as team physicians for many professional sports teams, including the New York Giants.

Here’s what Pareek had to say about Aiyuk’s recovery.

Q: How long does the recovery process take compared to a clean ACL tear?

PAREEK: For ACL injuries, professional athletes typically aim to return within 9-12 months. MCL injuries, especially minor ones such as sprains or partial tears, often occur with ACL tears, but usually do not 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 requires surgery, the process can take longer – adding 1-3 months to the return to sports timeline. That timeline can change based on factors such as player 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 steps, such as running or cutting exercises, might be delayed. Fortunately, MCL surgery is less common, which helps keep most players on the standard recovery path.

Q: What percentage of NFL receivers make a full recovery from Aiyuk’s particular injury?

PAREEK: Giving a percentage is difficult without knowing the specifics of the injury, but with modern surgical techniques and rehabilitation, we expect more NFL receivers to make full recoveries than not. However, we find that their first season back isn’t always as productive as their pre-injury seasons, and they continue to make progress in the 1-2 years after surgery. Injury risk remains a concern for both the ipsilateral and contralateral knee, which is why staying mentally and physically strong remain important principles of high-level sports participation.

Q: What is usually the most difficult aspect of the recovery process?

PAREEK: One of the most challenging aspects of recovery is dealing with both the physical and psychological components. Athletes must overcome not only the physical demands of rehabilitation, but also mental obstacles, such as the fear of re-injury, which can affect confidence and performance. The surgery itself is usually an outpatient procedure, but the long-term rehabilitation process requires a sustained commitment over months or even years. We are increasingly seeing the importance of psychological preparation in elite athletes. Sports psychologists play a bigger role in helping athletes regain their confidence, especially for demanding sports like football. Mental preparation is now considered as crucial as physical rehabilitation, helping athletes stay motivated, avoid burnout and perform optimally when they return to the field.

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