Patrick Mahomes Suffers Knee Injury as Chiefs Are Eliminated from Playoff Contention
On December 14, 2025, during a game in Kansas City, Missouri, the Kansas City Chiefs faced the Los Angeles Chargers in a critical matchup. Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs' quarterback, suffered a brutal left knee injury suspected to be a hyperextension after being hit while rolling to the right. Mahomes stayed down on the field, was helped up by trainers, and left the field limping. Gardner Minshew II entered the game as the replacement quarterback.
Mahomes had completed 16 of 28 passes for 189 yards with one interception, and scored a rushing touchdown in the first quarter before the injury occurred. The game concluded with the Los Angeles Chargers defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 16-13.
The loss eliminated the Chiefs from playoff contention. This marked a significant downturn for the team, which had reached the AFC Championship game every year since 2018 and had won the AFC West division nine straight seasons prior to this year. The Chiefs were described as bruised and battered compared with their recent era of dominance.
