The 6-7 Kansas City Chiefs welcomed the Los Angeles Chargers to Arrowhead in Week 15, desperate to keep their flickering playoff hopes alive. However, they stumbled with a 16-13 home defeat. While the loss stung, things got worse with their franchise quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, going down with what looks like a season-ending injury. Now, the Chiefs’ head coach, Andy Reid, has addressed what he saw.

“I don’t know, but it didn’t look good,” said head coach Andy Reid about Mahomes’ left knee.

The accident happened in the fourth quarter with only two minutes remaining in the regulation. On a first down at LAC 46, Mahomes faced pressure from three Chargers. When Chargers defensive end Da’Shawn Hand came too close, the QB threw the ball away towards his teammate for an incomplete pass. However, as the cameras shifted back to Mahomes, he was down, holding his left knee in visible agony.

The Chiefs’ medical staff rushed to help him before he was helped off to the locker room, along with Reid behind him. Chiefs backup QB Gardner Minshew took the reins for his first snap of the season.

Mahomes was already nursing some issues in his left knee from the Texans’ loss the week before. The quarterback had been managing it with warm compressions during practice. Coach Reid confirmed that Mahomes will undergo an MRI on his left knee to assess the full extent of the damage. And we have further updates…

Update: MRI results have confirmed a torn ACL in Mahomes’ left knee. The Chiefs QB will need surgery as soon as possible if the team wants him to return in the 2026 regular season. Generally, an ACL tear requires at least eight months of rehabilitation. Given that the Chiefs are already out of the playoffs and only have three more games remaining, they might get surgery done for his return to start at least Week 2 of the next season.

His return would depend on when the surgery takes place. It can be in a few days or a little later. It’s entirely contingent upon how quickly the swelling heals. If it takes its good time, the surgery delays, and Mahomes might end up missing the first few games of 2026. The Chiefs don’t want that after what happened this season.

Mahomes understands how painful this reality can be. Not only has the once-dominant dynasty lost a playoff berth in 11 years, but its cornerstone is also out. That’s why he addressed his fans right after the diagnosis.

“Don’t know why this had to happen. And not going to lie it’s hurts. But all we can do now is Trust in God and attack every single day over and over again. Thank you Chiefs kingdom for always supporting me and for everyone who has reached out and sent prayers. I Will be back stronger than ever ⏰,” Mahomes tweeted today.

However, Mahomes has been incredibly durable since becoming the Chiefs’ starting quarterback in 2018. So far, he has only missed two regular-season games. However, most of his discomforts have been due to leg injuries.

Still, he’s managed bruises, fractures, and concussions without serious long-term issues, often playing through discomfort to stay on the field. A prime example is the 2023 Super Bowl, where he battled a right ankle injury yet led Kansas City to victory over the San Francisco 49ers for another title.

He wasn’t alone in getting injured for KC in this game, though. Rashee Rice also went out due to an injury, but returned before the end of Q3

Los Angeles edged out a 16-13 victory against Kansas City when Minshew’s late interception sealed the loss for the Chiefs. This loss marks a rare and bitter milestone for Mahomes. For the first time in his career, the star quarterback will miss the playoffs entirely.

Update:

Andy Reid points out Patrick Mahomes will “want that one back”

The Chiefs have tumbled out of the playoff picture in the AFC West. The Denver Broncos now lead comfortably at 11-2, and the Chargers climbed to 10-4 behind them. That harsh reality hit hard in this game, with Mahomes struggling through just 189 yards, no touchdowns, and a costly interception. Post-game, Reid couldn’t ignore it and addressed the pick.

“Chiefs HC Andy Reid on the interception from Patrick Mahomes: He’d probably want that one back. Felt like Kareem (Hunt) could potentially make a play on a linebacker,” Charles Goldman of AtoZ Sports reported.

It all unraveled in the fourth quarter on a critical 3rd-and-12 from the Chargers’ 17-yard line. Mahomes dropped back in shotgun, trying to air it deep right to Kareem Hunt, but Chargers defender Derwin Henley stepped in front for the pick. Hunt couldn’t reel it in, and the turnover killed any comeback dreams right there.

With Mahomes’ health now hanging in the balance, those slim mathematical chances for the playoffs have vanished completely for Kansas City. The big question for Reid moving forward: if Mahomes gets medically cleared, will he risk putting his star back out there or shut him down to protect him for next season?