Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Why Patrick Mahomes Isn't Playing in Chiefs-Titans Game

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Hugh Green | Last updated Dec 21, 2025 11:00 AM ET

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has had an unbelievably successful career in the NFL thus far. In nine years in the league, he has racked up 35,939 passing yards and 267 touchdowns with just 85 interceptions. He has also run for 19 scores in 126 career games.

He has six Pro Bowl appearances, two first-team All-Pro selections, two NFL MVP awards and three Super Bowl titles in his illustrious Chiefs tenure.

In 14 games in the 2025 season, Mahomes completed 62.7% of his passes for 3,587 yards and 22 touchdowns with 11 interceptions. He also ran a considerable amount this year, scoring a career-high five times.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) looks to throw during the first quarter against the Houston Texans.© Denny Medley-Imagn Images

On Sunday, Kansas City took on the Los Angeles Chargers, needing a win to stay in contention for a playoff spot. The Chiefs ended up losing 16-13, eliminating them from playoff contention for the first time since 2014.

With under two minutes left in the fourth quarter of that game, Mahomes scrambled and threw the ball as he was tackled by a Chargers defender. His awkward fall to the ground ended up causing a torn ACL and LCL in his left leg.

This injury required surgery, ending Mahomes' year with three games left in the regular season.

This is what happened to Patrick Mahomes: pic.twitter.com/T5xlU5Vl6W https://t.co/fL5JyHmkW7
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 14, 2025

Mahomes underwent surgery on Monday in Dallas.

"Everything that he had in this injury was fixable, correctable and it was fixed on Monday night by Dr. [Dan] Cooper," Chiefs vice president of sports medicine and performance Rick Burkholder said, per USA Today. "He had no artery damage, no nerve damage, no joint surface damage, no meniscal damage. He's already started rehab down in Dallas and he'll do that through tomorrow and be back here Friday."

With Mahomes out, backup quarterback Gardner Minshew will start on the road against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. Minshew and the Chiefs will try to snap their three-game losing streak at 1 p.m. ET on CBS.

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

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