Need to Knows
- Patrick Mahomes suffered a torn ACL late in the Chiefs’ 16–13 loss to the Chargers, ending his season and eliminating Kansas City from playoff contention.
- The Chiefs will miss the postseason for the first time in Mahomes’ career, and his return timeline depends on surgery and rehab, likely pushing his comeback into 2026.
- Packers star pass rusher Micah Parsons is feared to have also torn his ACL, dealing a major blow to Green Bay’s playoff hopes during a critical stretch run.
- Week 15 injuries to multiple stars, including Davante Adams’ hamstring issue, could significantly reshape the NFL playoff picture heading into the final weeks.
The Packers’ Star Pass Rusher And The Chiefs’ Quarterback Both Went Down With Season-Ending Injuries
Sunday’s NFL slate underscored just how unforgiving the season’s final stretch has become. With only three weeks left in the regular season and the playoffs looming less than a month away, injuries to multiple star players now threaten to reshape the postseason picture entirely.
None was more consequential than the injury suffered by Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who tore the ACL in his left knee late in a 16-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, ending both his season and the Chiefs’ playoff hopes. Mahomes was driving into Chargers territory with under two minutes remaining when he scrambled toward the sideline and attempted to throw the ball away. Chargers defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand spun him to the ground upon release, and Mahomes immediately grabbed his knee as trainers rushed onto the field.
He was briefly taken to the blue injury tent before limping toward the locker room with assistance and a towel draped over his head. Imaging conducted Sunday night confirmed the torn ACL, and the Chiefs said Mahomes is considering surgical options. He is not expected to return until sometime in 2026.
“Don’t know why this had to happen. And not going to lie it hurts,” Mahomes wrote on social media. “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 stronger than ever.”
Gardner Minshew replaced Mahomes and briefly gave Kansas City hope, completing three straight passes before throwing a jump-ball interception to Derwin James with 14 seconds remaining, sealing the loss and a season sweep by Los Angeles. The defeat, combined with wins by Jacksonville, Buffalo and Houston, officially eliminated the defending AFC champions from playoff contention, marking the first time the Chiefs will miss the postseason during Mahomes’ tenure as a starter.
The injury is the most significant of Mahomes’ nine-year career, which included three Super Bowl titles and seven straight AFC Championship Game appearances. While he previously dealt with a dislocated kneecap in 2019, a concussion, turf toe, and a high ankle sprain he famously played through during the 2022 playoffs, he had largely avoided a season-ending injury until now.
The fallout extends beyond Mahomes. Travis Kelce, 36, is in the final year of his contract and has seen his production decline from his peak years. With Mahomes sidelined and the Chiefs facing an uncertain transition period, questions now linger about whether Kelce will return for another season or choose to walk away.
Kansas City’s injury issues went far beyond the quarterback position. The Chiefs entered the game without multiple offensive linemen, including left tackle Josh Simmons, backup Wanya Morris, and right tackle Trey Smith, while Jawaan Taylor played through a triceps injury. During the game, Jaylon Moore also went down, leaving journeyman linemen and an international pathway player to protect Mahomes late. The receiving corps was similarly depleted, with Marquise Brown inactive due to a family matter and multiple receivers evaluated for concussions.
Mahomes was not the only star quarterback or defensive anchor lost Sunday. Green Bay Packers pass rusher Micah Parsons is feared to have also torn his ACL, according to a source cited by NBC Sports. Parsons was injured late in the third quarter of Green Bay’s 34-26 loss to the Denver Broncos, dealing a massive blow to a Packers team clinging to the seventh and final NFC playoff spot at 9-4-1.
“It’s obviously tough,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. “We all know what kind of player he is and the impact he’s had on our football team. To lose someone like that, it’s tough. But no one is going to feel sorry for us. We need to find a way.”
Green Bay now faces a brutal closing stretch, with games against Chicago, Baltimore and Minnesota that could determine whether the Packers host a playoff game, slide into a wild-card spot, or fall out of the postseason entirely.
Elsewhere, Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Davante Adams avoided a catastrophic injury but pulled up with a hamstring strain in the second half of the Rams’ 41-34 win over the Detroit Lions. Adams has been central to the Rams’ offense this season, hauling in 60 passes for 789 yards and 14 touchdowns, but his availability is now in doubt for a pivotal Thursday night matchup against the Seattle Seahawks.
“I can’t imagine that’s good for Thursday with just the short amount of time,” Rams coach Sean McVay said. “But I certainly wouldn’t rule him out quite yet.”
That game will decide first place in the NFC West, with the winner gaining a critical edge in playoff positioning and the loser sliding into wild-card territory.
As the league enters its most consequential weeks, Sunday served as a reminder that attrition, not just talent, often decides who survives the race to January. And for teams like Kansas City and Green Bay, the losses may already have rewritten the ending.
