The Kansas City Chiefs are facing an unfamiliar and sobering reality as the 2025 NFL season winds down and they are without their quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
With three games remaining, the franchise has officially been eliminated from playoff contention, marking head coach Andy Reid‘s first postseason absence since 2014.
Video shows Travis Kelce appears to be done with the Chiefs after Patrick Mahomes injury
A season defined by unexpected losses, mounting injuries and inconsistency reached its lowest point in Week 15 with the devastating injury to pass-caller Mahomes.
Mahomes suffered a torn ACL on the final drive of Kansas City‘s loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, an injury that immediately ended his season and reshaped the narrative surrounding the Chiefs‘ future.
Ahead of their Week 16 matchup against the Tennessee Titans, the organization confirmed what many feared.
In a statement shared on social media, the team announced, “We have placed QB Patrick Mahomes on Reserve/Injured.”
The news sent shockwaves through the league, not only because of Mahomes‘ stature as a two time Super Bowl champion and former MVP, but because his durability had long been one of his defining traits.
According to ESPN injury analysts, ACL tears typically require nine to 12 months of rehabilitation, placing Mahomes‘ availability for the start of the 2026 season under close watch.
Kansas City also confirmed that Mahomes has already undergone surgery to repair the damaged knee and will remain in Kansas City throughout the rehabilitation process.
NFL Network reported that the procedure was successful and that the organization expects a full recovery, though the team will take a cautious approach.
Roster adjustments signal a shift toward evaluation mode
Alongside Mahomes‘ placement on injured reserve, the Chiefs announced several roster moves that underscore a shift in priorities as the season concludes.
The team stated, “We have signed Practice Squad player DT Zacch Pickens to an active roster contract. We have signed WR Jimmy Holiday to the Practice Squad.
“We have designated TE Jake Briningstool and CB Nazeeh Johnson to return to practice.”
With games remaining against the Titans, Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders, Kansas City now finds itself in evaluation mode.
Backup quarterbacks are expected to split time as Reid and his staff assess depth options and younger players.
According to The Athletic, Reid emphasized earlier this season that development remains critical even when playoff hopes fade.
How the Chiefs manage without Mahomes
The broader context makes the collapse all the more striking. Entering 2025, the Chiefs were widely viewed as contenders, bolstered by Mahomes, a veteran coaching staff and a defense expected to take a step forward.
Instead, injuries across the roster and close losses eroded momentum early. Pro Football Focus data shows Kansas City ranked near the bottom of the league in turnover differential and red zone efficiency, areas that proved costly.
Despite the disappointment, voices around the league urge patience. Former NFL quarterback Alex Smith said on ESPN, “Patrick Mahomes has shown time and again that he responds to adversity. This is a setback, not a defining moment.”
For now, Kansas City‘s focus is survival, evaluation and healing. Mahomes‘ rehabilitation will dominate the offseason conversation, but the Chiefs believe their franchise cornerstone will return stronger.
As one chapter closes on a rare down year, the organization is already looking ahead to writing the next.
