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

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

To learn more about Aiyuk’s rehabilitation process, we spoke to Ayoosh Pareek MD, a sports medicine surgeon at the Hospital of Special Surgeries 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 said 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 to 12 months. MCL injuries, especially minor ones like sprains or partial tears, often manifest as ACL tears but generally do not change the return to play timeline. Most of the time, MCL injuries only heal through rehabilitation and players can stay on track to recovery. However, in cases where the MCL tear is more severe and requires surgery, the process may take longer, adding 1 to 3 months to the return to sport time frame. This timeline may change depending on factors such as player position, surgical variability, and individual rehabilitation progress. If the ACL and MCL require surgery, this makes recovery more complex and some of the usual steps, like performing or cutting exercises, may be delayed. Fortunately, MCL surgery is less common, allowing most players to maintain 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 specific details of the injury, but with modern surgical techniques and rehabilitation, we expect more NFL receivers to make a full recovery than not. Yet we learn that their first season is not always as productive as their pre-injury seasons, and they continue to progress over the 1-2 years post-surgery. The risk of re-injury remains a concern in both the ipsilateral and contralateral knee, which is why remaining mentally and physically strong remains an important principle of high-level sporting participation.

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

PAREEK: One of the most difficult aspects of recovery is addressing both the physical and psychological components. Athletes must overcome not only the physical demands of rehabilitation, but also mental obstacles, such as fear of re-injury, which can impact their 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 among elite athletes. Sports psychologists are playing a larger role in helping athletes regain their confidence, especially in high-demand sports like soccer. 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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