Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Gardner Minshew (17) warms up before a game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

Chiefs QB situation gets worse after Gardner Minshew injury

By Samuel Stubbs | Last updated Dec 21, 2025 2:36 PM ET

After losing Patrick Mahomes to a torn ACL, the Kansas City Chiefs' quarterback situation has gotten even worse.

Backup QB Gardner Minshew threw a game-losing interception on the final drive of Kansas City's loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Dec. 14 that eliminated the Chiefs from playoff contention. It was Minshew that Kansas City tapped as their starter for Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans.

Not only did Minshew struggle in the first half of Sunday's contest — he was just 3-of-8 passing for 15 yards — but he also injured his knee.

Minshew was eventually ruled out for the rest of Sunday's matchup, and his injury only exacerbates Kansas City's current QB problem.

QB Gardner Minshew has been ruled out. https://t.co/laBa6C8vRY
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) December 21, 2025

Chiefs turn to former practice squad QB against Titans

Minshew's injury gave way to Chris Oladokun, a 28-year-old who was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022 out of South Dakota State.

Oladokun has been with Kansas City since 2022 after signing with the Chiefs' practice squad. But before Sunday, he had never attempted a pass in the NFL.

That changed on Sunday, when he completed a pass for six yards and led Kansas City on a drive to get their first points of the day on a field goal.

But by and large, Oladokun is an unproven QB at the NFL level. If Minshew's injury keeps him out for an extended period of time, the Chiefs could be in even bigger trouble at the QB position to close the 2025 season.

Per ESPN, Kansas City does not have a fourth QB on the roster, making its situation even more precarious if something were to happen to Oladokun.

Samuel Stubbs

Hailing from the same neck of the woods as NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin, Samuel has been covering NASCAR for Yardbarker since February 2024. He has been a member of the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) since October of 2024. When he’s not writing about racing, Samuel covers Arkansas Razorback basketball for Yardbarker

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