(Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has shared the latest update on star quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who suffered a season-ending torn ACL in his left knee during Sunday’s 16-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Despite the devastating injury, Reid confirmed that the MRI scan on Sunday night revealed no major damage to Mahomes’ other ligaments, giving some hope for a swift recovery.
Reid also revealed that Mahomes is heading to Dallas for a second opinion on his knee from Dr. Daniel Cooper, the Dallas Cowboys’ head team physician. Mahomes is expected to undergo surgery later this week to repair the torn ACL.
“He’ll attack it, just like he does everything else,” Reid said about Mahomes’ attitude toward the upcoming rehab process. “There have been some pretty good quarterbacks who have had the same injury, and they’ve done pretty well after they came back. He’ll get after it, and he’s got good people here to rehab him. He’ll be right on top of all of that.”
The coach remains optimistic about Mahomes’ recovery, stating, “As long as the surgery goes well, as expected, then I would expect a fairly quick recovery for him, just because of those factors.” However, the injury marks a major setback for the Chiefs, especially after they had already been eliminated from the playoffs with the loss to the Chargers.
The injury occurred with less than two minutes remaining in the game, as Mahomes scrambled out of the pocket and attempted to throw the ball away while being pursued by Chargers defensive end Da’Shawn Hand. As he planted his left foot, Mahomes’ knee buckled, and he immediately fell to the ground in pain, clutching his left knee, as per ESPN.
Reflecting on the injury, Mahomes posted on social media, “Don’t know why this had to happen. And not going to lie, [it] 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.”
While Mahomes’ surgery and recovery will keep him out for the team’s offseason program, his availability for the start of the next season remains uncertain. This marks a significant injury for a quarterback who has previously managed to avoid long-term setbacks during his career.
In 2019, Mahomes suffered a dislocated right kneecap but returned after missing just two games to lead the Chiefs to their first Super Bowl victory in 50 years. During the 2020 playoffs, he played through a concussion and turf toe in his left foot, ultimately undergoing surgery for the injury that offseason. His most notable moment came in the 2022 postseason when he led the Chiefs to another Super Bowl win, despite dealing with a high right ankle sprain.
Reid shared an encouraging update on Mahomes’ mental state, saying, “I’ve had a good visit with him a couple of different times. He’s in a good place. He feels like he let people down. He’s ready for the challenge ahead. He’s just got to get through surgery, wherever it might be. I know he’ll come out on the strong end of this.”
With Mahomes sidelined, the Chiefs’ priority will shift to securing a reliable backup quarterback for the remainder of the season and next year. Backup Gardner Minshew, a five-year veteran, is expected to take over as the team’s starter for the final three games of the regular season. Minshew’s performance during this stretch will serve as an audition for his potential role with the Chiefs moving forward.
“I’ve got a ton of confidence in Gardner,” Reid said. “I’ve watched him play with other teams, he’s started in the league, and our guys have confidence in him.”
As the Chiefs rally behind Minshew, they will also look to regroup for next season, with Mahomes’ return to full strength being a top priority. While the loss of their star quarterback is a major blow, the team remains hopeful that both Mahomes and Minshew will be key to their future success.
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