Patrick Mahomes suffered a significant setback late Sunday, as the Kansas City Chiefs confirmed the star quarterback has torn the ACL in his left knee.
The staff introduced the analysis hours after their loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, revealing that an MRI confirmed the harm following Mahomes’ exit within the fourth quarter. Kansas City added that Mahomes and the group are actually evaluating surgical choices.
Mahomes was injured late within the sport when he rolled left and threw the ball away beneath strain. Chargers defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand grabbed Mahomes’ legs in the course of the play, and his left knee appeared to buckle as he went down. Mahomes remained on the turf for a number of minutes earlier than being helped to the sideline and escorted to the locker room.
The harm capped off a troublesome day for the Chiefs, who fell 16–13 to the Chargers, formally eliminating them from playoff rivalry. The defeat will guarantee Kansas City’s first missed postseason since 2014, ending a decade-long run of playoff appearances that coincided with Mahomes’ rise to stardom.
There is at present no official timetable for Mahomes’ return, although restoration from a torn ACL usually takes not less than 9 months. That timeline may push his comeback into the early portion of the 2026 season, relying on rehabilitation progress and surgical outcomes.
The harm is particularly vital given Mahomes’ sturdiness all through his profession. Since taking up as the Chiefs’ beginning quarterback in 2018, he has performed in 125 of a doable 130 video games. Drafted tenth general in 2017, Mahomes has established himself as the NFL’s premier quarterback, incomes two first-team All-Pro alternatives, six Pro Bowl nods, and main Kansas City to 5 Super Bowl appearances, profitable three championships.
Mahomes has additionally guided the Chiefs to not less than the AFC Championship Game in each season he has began, making Sunday’s loss and subsequent harm a surprising turning level for himself and the franchise.
As Kansas City appears to be like forward to the offseason, Mahomes’ restoration can be intently monitored whereas the group regroups and retools its roster.