Injuries to monitor after Week 15: Patrick Mahomes news makes Chiefs' nightmare season even worse

Each week of the NFL season, Yardbarker monitors players who have suffered notable injuries. Here are five we're tracking after Week 15: 

Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes

Mahomes exited after suffering a left knee injury late in the fourth quarter of a 16-13 home loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. He finished 16-of-28 passing for 189 yards and one interception. 

Following the Chiefs' loss, head coach Andy Reid said the "injury didn't look good." Unfortunately for Mahomes and Kansas City fans, he was correct. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the three-time Super Bowl champion tore his ACL.  

This makes the Chiefs' disastrous season even worse, as they have already been eliminated from the playoffs. Two-time league MVP Mahomes has been one of the positives for the fading dynasty this season. Entering Week 15, he ranked third in the league in passing yards (3,398) and was tied for fifth in passing touchdowns (22). 

Backup QB Gardner Minshew is now set to replace Mahomes. The Chiefs (6-8) should continue to struggle with him as the starter. The former Jacksonville Jaguar has a 17-29 record as a starter over seven seasons. Against L.A., he went 3-of-5 passing for 22 yards and one interception. 

Green Bay Packers DE Micah Parsons 

Parsons suffered a non-contact left knee injury late in the third quarter of a 34-26 loss to the Denver Broncos on the road while chasing QB Bo Nix. He was subsequently ruled out of the game. 

Empower Field at Mile High in Denver doesn't include an MRI room, so Parsons still must undergo testing. However, Pro Football Talk's Josh Alper reported that the Packers believe the star pass-rusher has torn his ACL. 

If Alper's report is correct, that's a massive loss for the Packers (9-4-1), who are in a tight NFC North race with the Chicago Bears (10-4). 

The Packers acquired Parsons in a blockbuster trade with the Dallas Cowboys before the start of the season, and he has proved worth the asking price. Entering Week 15, he was tied for third in the league in sacks (12.5) with Broncos LB Nik Bonitto. 

Green Bay Packers WR Christian Watson 

In the same quarter Parsons suffered his injury, Watson exited with a chest issue. He finished with three receptions for 29 yards.

The injury occurred when Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II landed on top of the wideout on a deep pass from QB Jordan Love. Per The Athletic/Bleacher Report contributor James Palmer, the WR left the stadium in an ambulance. 

In his postgame news conference, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur didn't provide a detailed update on Watson but confirmed Palmer's report. It could be another unlucky break for the WR, who has struggled to stay healthy throughout his career. He already missed six games this season after recovering from an ACL tear suffered in 2024. 

When healthy, Watson is one of the Packers' more explosive playmakers. Entering Sunday, the fourth-year WR was averaging 18.1 yards per reception, the second-best mark of his career. 

Los Angeles Rams WR Davante Adams

During the fourth quarter of the Rams' 41-34 win over the Detroit Lions, Adams suffered a non-contact left hamstring injury while running a route on a deep pass. He finished with four receptions for 71 yards on nine targets. 

Rams HC Sean McVay sounded pessimistic about Adams' injury. He told the media, "It doesn't look good." 

Adams' hamstring injury has been a nagging issue. He was listed on the team's injury report this week and didn't practice on Wednesday and Thursday. 

Puka Nacua remains the Rams WR1, but Adams has quietly been having one of the best seasons of his career. In his first 13 games, the 12th-year WR had 14 touchdown catches, tied for the second most in his career. 

Houston Texans RB Woody Marks

Marks suffered an ankle injury in the first quarter of Houston's 40-20 win over the Arizona Cardinals. The rookie out of Southern California briefly returned but sat out for most of the second half. He had seven carries for 30 yards.   

Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans indicated Woods' injury isn't a huge concern. In a postgame news conference, the coach admitted he could've returned to the game had it been closer. 

The Texans should monitor Woods' health for the rest of the season. The 5-foot-10, 208-pound RB has already battled knee and ankle issues.

Houston needs him to remain healthy down the stretch. Entering Week 15, he led the team in rushing yards, with 554.