McMahon Is Released From Hospital : Bear Quarterback Making ‘Excellent Progress’ After Surgery

Quarterback Jim McMahon of the Chicago Bears was released from Centinela Hospital Medical Center in Inglewood Tuesday morning, four days after undergoing more than two hours of surgery on his right shoulder.

Dr. Frank Jobe, who trimmed some of the rotator cuff and reconstructed the front part of the shoulder during the operation last Friday morning, described McMahon’s condition as good. “His progress has been excellent and his spirits are good,” Jobe said.

McMahon, who made no statement as he checked out at 10:15 a.m., will return to the hospital twice a day for ‘at least the next 10 days’ for physical therapy treatment.

“His physical therapy will include exercises to strengthen his muscles and therapy to get his range of motion back,” hospital spokesman Dennis McLaughlin said. “He’s expected to return to Chicago late next week, where he will begin a rehabilitation period expected to last three to six months.”

The physical therapy will be geared toward helping McMahon regain a full range of motion in the shoulder and to redevelop the muscles. He is not expected to be able to throw a football competitively for at least six months.

The 27-year-old McMahon has been injured much of the season. He last played in the Bears’ 12-10 victory over the Green Bay Packers Nov. 23. He was making his first start in about a month in that game.