Mbokazi was initially ruled out for the remainder of the campaign after suffering a thigh tear ahead of the resumption of the 2026 Major League Soccer season.
The injury came at an unfortunate time for the Bafana Bafana star, who impressed during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Berhalter had previously described Mbokazi's injury as a difficult setback, but the American coach has now admitted that his initial assessment of the defender's recovery timeline may have been too pessimistic.
Chicago Fire have managed to cope with Mbokazi's absence, going seven matches across all competitions without defeat. However, his return would still provide Berhalter with another defensive option as the season enters its crucial stages.
Speaking after Chicago Fire's 1-1 draw against New York Red Bulls over the weekend, Berhalter revealed that Mbokazi is making progress in his rehabilitation.
"I think the information I gave that he's definitely out for the season was premature," Berhalter said, per GOAL.
"He's in a rehab program now and he's progressing. There's no exact timeframe for when he's going to be back, but there is a possibility it is before the end of the season."
While Berhalter stressed that there is no confirmed return date yet, the latest update offers renewed hope that Mbokazi could feature for Chicago Fire again before the 2026 campaign concludes.
For the defender, an earlier-than-expected return would provide a welcome boost after an injury that initially appeared set to end his season prematurely.
