Chiefs’ Quarterback Crisis Deepens as Injuries Mount, Season Spirals
It’s been a brutal stretch for the Kansas City Chiefs - and not just on the scoreboard. In a matter of weeks, the team has gone from perennial contender to a franchise scrambling to field a healthy quarterback.
First, Patrick Mahomes went down with a torn ACL. Now Gardner Minshew, who stepped in as QB1, may be facing the same fate.
Two quarterbacks, two potential season-ending knee injuries. And just like that, the Chiefs are staring down a December gauntlet with Chris Oladokun - a third-stringer who threw his first NFL pass last week - as their only healthy option under center.
The latest blow came in a 26-9 loss to the Tennessee Titans, a game that saw Oladokun take the field for the first time this season. It wasn’t just a footnote - it was a signal that the Chiefs’ quarterback room is in crisis mode.
With Christmas Day looming and a matchup against the Denver Broncos on deck, Kansas City’s front office has no choice but to act fast. Reinforcements are needed, and they’re needed yesterday.
Head coach Andy Reid, never one to panic publicly, acknowledged the situation but made it clear that GM Brett Veach is steering the personnel ship. “Well, just by numbers, if that’s the case, Brett’s on it,” Reid said postgame. Translation: the Chiefs are well aware of the urgency, and the phones are likely already ringing.
A Season That’s Slipping Away
This isn’t just about injuries. It’s about a season that’s gone completely off the rails.
Kansas City has officially been eliminated from playoff contention - a jarring reality for a team that’s been a mainstay in January football for the better part of a decade. And now, for the first time since Andy Reid took over in 2013, the Chiefs are staring at a losing season.
It’s a stunning fall from grace. The offense has sputtered, the injuries have piled up, and the team that once looked like a model of consistency is limping toward the finish line.
And here’s the kicker: it could still get worse.
The Chiefs close out the year with two divisional games - first against the Broncos, then the Raiders. Both teams would love nothing more than to kick their rival while they’re down.
Denver has been playing tough, physical football, and if Kansas City rolls into that game without a proven quarterback, it could get ugly in a hurry. As for the Raiders?
That’s a rivalry game with pride on the line. And the last thing the Chiefs want is to end their season with a loss to a division foe at home.
Where Do the Chiefs Go From Here?
This is uncharted territory for Kansas City in the Mahomes era - or even the Reid era, for that matter. The offense has always been the backbone of this team, but with Mahomes out and Minshew likely joining him on the sideline, the Chiefs are being forced to rethink everything.
Do they bring in a veteran off the street? Elevate another practice squad player?
Ride it out with Oladokun and hope the defense can carry the load? There are no easy answers, but what’s clear is that the Chiefs can’t afford to stand pat.
The next two weeks won’t just be about playing out the schedule. They’ll be about evaluating what’s left on this roster - and figuring out how to regroup heading into 2026.
Because while this season may be slipping away, the Chiefs still have a core that’s built to contend. The challenge now is getting through the storm, learning from the chaos, and coming back stronger on the other side.
But for now, Kansas City is simply trying to survive December.