Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Chiefs Receive Quarterback News After NFL Season

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Hugh Green | Last updated Jan 28, 2026 1:59 PM ET

The Kansas City Chiefs had a season to forget in 2025. Coming off reaching five Super Bowls in the past six seasons, the Chiefs went into the year with all the expectations in the world. However, after Kansas City began the year a respectable 5-3, head coach Andy Reid and company lost eight of their last nine games.

This 6-11 record marked their lowest win total since 2012, as they missed the playoffs for the first time in a decade. To make matters worse for the Chiefs and their fanbase, their perennial MVP candidate quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, tore his ACL and LCL in his left knee against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 15.

With Mahomes sidelined for the final three games of the season, Kansas City turned to Gardner Minshew as a backup.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15).Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Minshew finished the game against the Chargers that Mahomes went down in and started the Chiefs' Week 16 matchup against the Tennessee Titans. However, as if the injury bug hadn't plagued Kansas City enough already, Minshew injured his knee against the Titans.

His injury was initially feared to be a torn ACL, like Mahomes, as Minshew was held out the remainder of the year.

However, on Wednesday, ESPN reporter Adam Schefter provided a big update on the status of Minshew's knee, which turned out not to be as bad as the Chiefs had thought.

"As it turns out, Chiefs QB Gardner Minshew did not tear his ACL as initially feared, per source. It turned out to be a bone bruise that did not require any surgery. Minshew didn’t suffer any long-term damage to the knee and he already is back to full strength as he prepares to head to free agency," Schefter said on his Instagram.

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Minshew, who signed a one-year, $1.17 million contract with the Chiefs before the 2025 season to serve as Mahomes' backup, will become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

As he is now healthy, it will be interesting to see whether Kansas City decides to go after him again with the status of Mahomes' 2026 season up in the air.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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