Patrick Mahomes Injured as Chiefs Exit Playoffs
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes limped off the field after sustaining a serious leg injury late in the game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
With under two minutes remaining on Sunday, December 14, Mahomes, 30, was tackled awkwardly along the sideline and immediately clutched his left knee in pain.
His knee appeared to buckle during the play. Trainers quickly attended to him, and after several minutes, he hobbled off the field and was taken to the medical tent.
He was later seen being helped to the locker room and did not return to the game.
Mahomes ended the game with 189 yards passing and an interception, alongside a rushing touchdown.
Gardner Minshew, 29, took over as Mahomes’ backup and finished the game, but his interception sealed the Chiefs’ fate.
Minshew—a seven-year NFL veteran—will likely lead the Chiefs for the remaining three games of the season if Mahomes, a two-time NFL MVP, needs time to recover.
In the wake of their 16-13 loss, Kansas City was officially eliminated from playoff contention for the first time in 11 seasons. This setback is a rare blip in an otherwise dominant run for the Chiefs, who have claimed three Super Bowl titles in the last five years, including back-to-back victories in 2022 and 2023.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid provided an update on Mahomes following the game, stating that he would undergo an MRI on Sunday night or Monday, December 15.
“I don’t know,” Reid said when asked about the injury’s severity. “But it didn’t look good. We’ll see what happens.”
Mahomes had been managing a knee injury for several weeks but had not missed any time until now.
“I feel like I’ve played a football season,” Mahomes said on Wednesday, December 10, during an appearance on 96.5 The Fan. “Everyone’s banged up with little issues, but I’ll be ready to go, and I’m eager to return to the field and focus on winning.”
He had appeared on the injury report ahead of the previous week’s Sunday Night Football matchup against the Houston Texans but was cleared to play in both that game and the current week’s game.
“It’s essential, especially for the quarterback,” he said. “If the guys sacrifice their bodies to block for you, you have to do the same on the field. It’s two teams battling it out to win, and I’m sure it’ll be an exciting contest.”
Before Sunday’s game, Mahomes emphasized to the media the significance of the matchup, with the Chiefs in a do-or-die situation.
“We know we have to win,” he said on Wednesday. “That’s clear. You need to win the game, no matter what. It’s a crucial moment, especially against a team that leads the division, so we must find a way to succeed.”
