The Kansas City Chiefs announced quarterback news on December 22, as Patrick Mahomes’ initial replacement, Gardner Minshew, was placed on the injured reserve following a positive update on his long-term status.
“Chiefs QB Gardner Minshew received some good news, as his ACL was spared, sources say, following the MRI,” NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport relayed on X. “His knee is still injured and should miss game time. But not what it initially appeared.”
Later, on December 22, Rapoport followed up with more information.
“More specifically, this would be called a non-displaced tibial plateau fracture, one that ends his season and puts Gardner Minshew on IR, source says,” the insider explained. Adding: “Basically, a very bad bone bruise. But no surgery needed.”
In his place, the Chiefs acted quickly to reunite with a former quarterback who knows head coach Andy Reid’s offensive system.
“We have signed QB Shane Buechele to the active roster from the Buffalo Bills practice squad,” the Chiefs’ social media team revealed shortly after the Minshew injury update.
They also confirmed that Minshew is being placed on the injured reserve, which opens up a spot on the 53-man roster for Buechele. KC will presumably close out the 2025 season with Chris Oladokun and Buechele as their two QBs.
Shane Buechele Was Patrick Mahomes’ Understudy With Chiefs From 2021 Through 2023
GettyThe Kansas City Chiefs reunite with quarterback Shane Buechele.
Buechele was, of course, with the Chiefs for a few seasons from 2021 through 2023. Really, he was Reid’s third-string quarterback experiment before guys like Oladokun and Bailey Zappe came to Kansas City, among others.
Generally, KC has gone the veteran route at backup QB despite always bringing in a developmental project or two, and Buechele held down that role for a time, learning from Mahomes.
In college, Buechele split his five-year career between Texas and SMU, throwing for nearly 7,000 yards and 57 touchdowns over his final two seasons combined. The 6-foot-0 signal-caller also displayed some mild dual-threat potential, rushing for 200-plus yards combined in his last two collegiate campaigns.
Buechele never suited up for a regular season game for the Chiefs, but he did play during the preseason in each of his three years with the organization.
He managed his best completion percentage (67.3%) as a rookie, then tailed off from there. But Buechele’s bigger issue was interceptions.
In his 9 preseason outings with Kansas City, Buechele threw 9 touchdowns compared to 6 interceptions. He also rushed for 2 TDs over that span.
With the Bills, it’s been more of the same for Buechele — preseason work and a permanent place on the practice squad as an emergency reserve. However, the fifth-year pro is coming off his best preseason period ever, completing 78.3% of passes for 380 yards and 1 touchdown (no interceptions) in 2025.
Gardner Minshew Injury Update Is Good News for Chiefs
The good thing about this Minshew update is that he’s not lost as a 2026 QB option for Kansas City. Chiefs Digest beat reporter Matt Derrick explained why on December 22.
“Chiefs fans may remember that [ex-safety] Dan Sorensen had the same injury in training camp in 2018 and missed the first nine games of the season,” Derrick reminded.
Continuing: “The good news for Minshew — and the Chiefs if they re-sign him — is he should be completely ready for OTAs and offseason workouts.”
It’s unclear if KC wants Minshew back in 2026 or if he prefers to sign elsewhere, but his immediate injury once taking over as the starter should impact his market in free agency. This makes it more likely that the Chiefs can retain him, assuming they like what the veteran backup brought to the table before he got hurt.
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