The Kansas City Chiefs are entering unfamiliar territory after a season-ending injury to quarterback Patrick Mahomes brought an abrupt close to their playoff hopes.
Mahomes was injured late in the fourth quarter of Kansas City’s Week 15 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers when he was tackled from behind near the two-minute warning. The quarterback immediately grabbed his left knee and remained on the field as trainers attended to him before helping him off and into the locker room. The team later confirmed Mahomes tore the ACL in his left knee and will undergo surgery.
The injury adds a lot of uncertainty to an offseason already filled with questions in KC. Mahomes is expected to miss between nine and twelve months, putting his availability for the start of next season in doubt. Head coach Andy Reid said Mahomes will seek a second opinion before a final recovery timeline is set.
Beyond the quarterback situation, the Chiefs face potential changes throughout the organization, as tight end Travis Kelce has yet to decide whether he will return next season, while several key contributors are set to hit free agency. The roster’s struggles on offense and the lack of consistent pass rush have also been exposed during a disappointing year.
Kansas City will close the season without a playoff appearance for the first time in a decade, shifting its overall focus to evaluating young players and improving their draft position. With Gardner Minshew expected to start at quarterback, the final games will be less about winning and more about setting a direction for what comes next.