The Kansas City Chiefs could be down to one quarterback after Sunday’s injury to Gardner Minshew, and the options would be very limited this late in the season.
Minshew went down in the team’s embarrassing loss to the Tennessee Titans, who came into the game with just two wins. There are fears that Minshew may have suffered a season-ending injury just one week after the Chiefs lost Patrick Mahomes for the year.
If that’s the case, the Chiefs would need to look outside the organization for at least one quarterback, and could find help in the form of an erstwhile New England Patriots starter.
Chiefs Could Poach Practice Squad for New Quarterback
After Minshew went down in the second quarter of the 26-9 loss, the Chiefs were forced to turn to practice squad member Chris Oladokun, who was elevated for the game. He completed 11-of-16 passes for 111 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions.
After the game, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid admitted that he could have helped Oladokun better prepare for the game.
âI probably could give him better stuff to work with,â Reid said. âIn particular, give him some more reps during the week. He didnât have any reps to lead him in, but for what he was asked to do, I thought he did a nice job.â
While the Chiefs are expected to turn to Oladokun again next week if Minshew is unable to play, they will need to add more depth.
Mike Kadlick of SI.com broke down the potential quarterback options, noting that former Patriots starter Bailey Zappe could fit the bill.
“Bailey Zappe spent his first two NFL seasons with the Patriots after being drafted out of Western Kentucky in 2022. He was eventually released by New England during final roster cuts in 2024, and signed to the Chiefsâ practice squad two days later,” Kadlick wrote.
Kadlick added that the Chiefs would need to poach Zappe from the practice squad of the Cleveland Browns, which would ensure he remains on the active roster for the final two games of the season.
“The 26-year-old has since had a second stint in Kansas City and is currently a member of the Brownsâ practice squad. Zappe is eligible to sign with the Chiefsâ active rosterâa move that would make sense given his familiarity with the system,” Kadlick wrote.
Gardner Minshew’s Uncertain Future
Reid told reporters after the game that Minshew would undergo testing to determine the extent of his injury. A torn ACL would keep him out for the remainder of the season and send him to a long rehab process.
The veteran quarterback’s contract with the Chiefs is up after this season, and a long-term injury would likely keep him in free agency until he can recover.
Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones said he’s never been in a situation quite like this, but said his team needs to move on and focus on the rest of the season.
âItâs definitely an unprecedented situation that Iâve never been a part of,â Jones said. âBut as coach Reid said, âWe work with who we got, and we just keep it moving.â “
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