Patrick Mahomes' injury Sunday was worse than it first appeared, and that reality is now setting in for the Chiefs.
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According to NFL Network, Mahomes not only tore his left ACL in the loss to the Chargers, but also suffered a tear of his lateral collateral ligament. The added damage can complicate recovery, though it does not necessarily change the general nine-month timetable typically associated with ACL rehab.
Kansas City announced Monday that Mahomes underwent surgery in Dallas to repair the ACL. The team did not reference the LCL injury in its statement.
"Patrick Mahomes successfully underwent surgery ... to repair the tear in his left ACL," the Chiefs said, adding that he will begin rehabilitation immediately.
Coach Andy Reid had previously indicated imaging showed no additional significant ligament damage, but the report suggests that the injury was more complex than initially described.
The season effectively ended for Kansas City late in the fourth quarter of a 16-13 home loss to the Chargers, when Mahomes went down after a tackle. He was clearly in pain and needed help getting to the locker room, a towel draped over his face as Arrowhead went quiet. The loss officially eliminated the Chiefs from playoff contention, snapping a long postseason run that dated back a decade.
This marks the first major injury setback of Mahomes' career. He acknowledged the moment later on social media, calling it painful but vowing to attack rehab and return stronger.
There is no reason to doubt Mahomes' ability to come back at an elite level. Still, the injury, paired with a disappointing season, forces some uncomfortable conversations for the Chiefs. This was their first year without a playoff appearance since Mahomes became the starter in 2018.
Don’t know why this had to happen. And not going to lie it’s 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…
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) December 14, 2025
Questions loom about roster direction, offensive reinforcements and even whether Mahomes and Travis Kelce have played their final game together, with Kelce weighing retirement.
Gardner Minshew replaced Mahomes on Sunday and will start the final three games, beginning with a road matchup against Tennessee. The bigger focus, though, has already shifted to 2026 and getting the face of the franchise back on the field.
