The Kansas City Chiefs' 2025 season has gone from bad to worse-and now it’s bordering on surreal. Just a week after being officially eliminated from playoff contention for the first time in over a decade and losing franchise cornerstone Patrick Mahomes to a devastating ACL and LCL tear, the team took another gut punch in Sunday’s loss to the Titans: backup quarterback Gardner Minshew is now feared to have suffered a torn ACL of his own.
Minshew went down in the second quarter with Kansas City leading 3-2. He was quickly taken to the locker room with a left knee injury and did not return. By the end of the game, he was ruled out, and early reports suggest the injury could be just as serious as Mahomes’-a potential torn ACL, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
That left third-stringer Chris Oladokun to take over under center, and while the situation was far from ideal, he held his own. Oladokun finished the game 11-for-16 for 111 yards and posted a passer rating of 88.3-solid numbers for a quarterback making his first meaningful NFL snaps.
Oladokun’s journey to this moment has been anything but linear. A 2022 seventh-round pick by the Steelers, he bounced around the college ranks-from South Florida to Samford to South Dakota State-before entering the league.
Since then, he’s been in and out of Kansas City’s building over the past four seasons, mostly on the practice squad. Now, barring a surprise move, he appears to be the Chiefs’ starter for the final stretch of what’s already a lost season.
But Kansas City can’t roll with just one healthy quarterback. Whether it’s for depth, scout team reps, or simply to have an emergency option on game day, the Chiefs need another arm in the room. And with limited time and options, the front office will have to act fast.
Here are three realistic candidates who could step in and help stabilize the quarterback depth chart:
Bailey Zappe - The former Patriots quarterback is currently on the Browns’ practice squad, but he’s no stranger to Kansas City. After being released by New England in 2024, Zappe signed with the Chiefs’ practice squad and even had a second stint with the team.
He knows the system, he’s just 26, and he’s eligible to be signed to the active roster. If the Chiefs want a plug-and-play option who’s already familiar with the playbook, Zappe makes a lot of sense.
Shane Buechele - Another familiar face, Buechele spent two seasons with the Chiefs after going undrafted out of SMU in 2021. He’s currently on the Bills’ practice squad but hasn’t thrown a pass in a regular-season NFL game.
That said, he knows Andy Reid’s system and has spent plenty of time in the quarterback room with Mahomes. If Kansas City wants someone who can step in without a steep learning curve, Buechele is a logical choice.
Ian Book - The only true free agent on the list, Book had a short stint with the Chiefs earlier this year. He signed a futures deal in January 2024 but was cut during final roster moves.
Still, he spent enough time in the building to have some familiarity, and unlike Zappe or Buechele, he can be signed immediately without poaching from another team’s practice squad. If the Chiefs prefer a quicker transaction and want to avoid any roster complications, Book could be the answer.
At this point, the Chiefs aren’t looking for a savior-they’re looking for stability. With Mahomes and Minshew both sidelined, and the playoffs no longer in the picture, the goal is to finish the season with some level of continuity and professionalism. Whether it’s Oladokun taking the reins or one of these potential additions stepping in, Kansas City’s quarterback room is going to look very different down the stretch.
And while the 2025 campaign may be a wash, the final weeks will still matter-for player evaluation, for development, and for setting the tone heading into what promises to be a critical offseason.