The Kansas City Chiefs’ 2025 season is over, and all eyes are now on 2026 and recovery timeline news for superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who suffered a torn ACL injury against the Los Angeles Chargers.
NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport provided an initial injury update on Mahomes on the morning of December 15, which relayed the following Chiefs news.
“A left knee injury, a torn ACL that was confirmed with an immediate MRI last night,” Rapoport began. Continuing: “Had a second opinion to see what other damage there is, and if there is more, obviously we will bring it to you. But the most important thing is that Mahomes is now done for the season. Gardner Minshew is the backup quarterback; he’ll be the guy throughout the next several games.”
That’s when Rapoport got into Mahomes’ expected recovery timeline.
“[Mahomes] obviously faces a long road ahead,” the insider went on. “It is, right now, the middle of December. Nine months from now is the middle of September. That obviously raises the possibility that Mahomes is not ready to start next season.”
“[He] has a chance to be ready,” Rapoport added. “Sometimes quarterbacks — a little different position than most — can be ready, but it is not a guarantee. [Mahomes] faces a long road of recovery.”
So, there you have it. As most initially estimated, this torn ACL will likely keep Mahomes out for nine months from the time of his surgery.
That’s a flexible estimate, and the recovery could potentially take a little longer or a little shorter, but nine months is the current projected timeline for Mahomes. Needless to say, it’s not the way the Chiefs wanted to head into 2026 — even if they did fall short of making the playoffs.
Chiefs Will Be on the Hunt for a Veteran QB After Patrick Mahomes Injury News
As of December 15, it’s unclear if Mahomes will be ready for Week 1 of the 2026 season, but one thing is very clear. No matter how quickly Mahomes appears to be recovering, the Chiefs will surely be on the hunt for a quality veteran quarterback this offseason.
The frontrunner for the job is likely Minshew, but these next few weeks will be important for the former starter as he officially states his case for the role.
Minshew signed a one-year contract in 2025, so there are other complications here, too. If Minshew does play well down the stretch, another franchise may offer him a starting job, or at least a chance to compete for a full-time role with a first-team offense.
He could also play poorly, and perhaps KC decides to go in another direction in that scenario. So, the QB2 role is far from determined.
Either way, the Chiefs will cast a wide net with their veteran QB search, considering that player could be starting meaningful games for Kansas City early in the year. Minshew will get the initial audition, but you can bet that general manager Brett Veach is already forming a list of potential candidates.
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