DECEMBER 22: Minshew’s ACL is intact, although he will not be able to play again this season. A non-displaced tibial plateau fracture has been revealed through further testing, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The injury will not require surgery, but Minshew is set to and on injured reserve.
DECEMBER 21: Sunday’s action represented the second straight game in which a Chiefs quarterback exited due to a knee injury. Gardner Minshew was unable to finish Kansas City’s Week 16 contest, and he will not be expected to return this season. 
The Chiefs fear Minshew tore his ACL, as first reported by Matt Derrick of ChiefsDigest.com. He and ESPN’s Adam Schefter report further testing will take place, including an MRI. Based on the initial indications, though, Minshew seems to be on track for a lengthy recovery just like Patrick Mahomes.
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Late last week, Mahomes suffered his own ACL tear during the game which ensured Kansas City’s playoff elimination. That set up Minshew to handle QB1 duties the rest of the way, but instead he is now in store for a lengthy spell out of the picture. Mahomes is of course not in danger of having his Chiefs tenure come to an end any time soon, but Minshew is a pending free agent.
Following a brief Jacksonville stint and two years as a backup in Philadelphia, Minshew spent one year with the Colts and another with the Raiders. He totaled 22 starts over that period, but upon reaching the open market this past spring the 29-year-old was viewed as a high-floor backup option. That was confirmed when he became Kansas City’s latest veteran QB2. Presuming further tests confirm an ACL tear, Minshew’s value for 2026 will obviously take a serious hit.
Chris Oladokun handled quarterback duties after Minshew went down. The former seventh-round pick will presumably continue to do so for the Chiefs’ two remaining games this season. Oladokun is also a pending free agent, so Kansas City’s QB room could look much different by the start of the 2026 campaign. Mahomes’ progress in recovery will of course be a major storyline for the team over the coming months, but Minshew is in danger of finding himself in the same situation for the offseason.
Wow that’s some terrible luck for their QB’s these past 2 weeks. Back to back torn ACL’s has to be some sort of record.
God when it rains it pours huh
Maybe it’s recency bias, but I feel like torn ACL’s are through the roof this season.
No they’re definitely tearing through the league this year
Achilles injuries also
They’re actually on pace for being the lowest in a long time. Just happens to be a lot of stars this year
Time to pull a Colts & get Alex Smith Outta retirement!
Steve Deberg
Reminding me of the movie major league lol
Joe Montana !
Better spend some money on improving that o-line next year if they want Mahomes to live through the season
Mahomes finally knowing what it’s like to Burrow
Will Burrow ever find out even once what it feels like to be Mahomes?
The offensive line was very good when they were all healthy. The only offensive line position that will be different will be right tackle.
So many injuries and ACL tears, but if the stupid commish and owners have their greedy way, there’d be an 18th game. SMH
NFLPA agrees to the new games.
They’re basically selling the players health and safety for a larger share of revenue… although they will deny that vigorously.
Players sign off on the expanded games. Hold them accountable. They get paid for additional games.
Players show up for a meeting vote then leave but I’d be surprised if even half of them could tell you who their union rep is. They care about their own contract…not union business.
That’s their fault then. Players are as greedy as the owners.
We are in week 16. Even if there was 18 games all these injuries happening would happen if there was 16, 17, 18 games.
It’s not rocket science. If you give your body less rest while asking it to exert itself more, eventually it will become fatigued and more prone to injury.
Colbert’s final pick here.
So who will the Chiefs get as a backup QB for the last 2 games………. They’ve already pulled from their taxi squad. They definitely need a backup.
There are plenty of QBs out there, but the ones who are available this time of year usually aren’t good enough to make the team in September.
Wow! The Chiefs training staff needs to look at the cleats these guys are wearing…something is going on…..wonder if they will sign Bailey Zappe off Cleveland’s practice squad, as he’s familiar with the Chiefs offense….
Bad luck for Minshew but Simmons was coming like a freight train today. A great year on a bad team.
Kape !!!
The solution to all of the severe injuries is? More games of course !
The NFL will probably add a second game to Thursday Night!
I keep thinking of Spinal Tap drummers…
Tank
At least call Cam Newton so he won’t have another crash out. Heck, even let him show up lol