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why is mahomes out

Patrick Mahomes is out because he suffered a torn ACL in his left knee in the closing minutes of a game against the Los Angeles Chargers in mid-December 2025, which ended his season and the Chiefs’ playoff hopes.

What happened?

  • Mahomes injured his left knee late in a Week 15 loss to the Chargers when his leg bent awkwardly as he was being tackled while throwing near the sideline.
  • He stayed down on the field, was evaluated by trainers, and then was helped to the locker room, unable to return to the game.

Official diagnosis and status

  • An MRI later that day confirmed a torn ACL in his left knee, and the Chiefs announced that his season was over as they explored surgical options.
  • Reports then confirmed he underwent surgery in Dallas to repair the ACL (and associated ligament damage) and immediately began rehab, making this a classic season-ending injury.

How long will Mahomes be out?

  • Typical recovery for an NFL quarterback from an ACL tear is roughly 9–12 months, meaning he is expected to miss all offseason work and potentially the start of the 2026 season depending on rehab progress.
  • Team medical staff and outside experts have suggested an optimistic range of about 7–11 months, but the Chiefs are expected to be cautious given his franchise cornerstone status.

Impact on the Chiefs right now

  • With Mahomes out, backup quarterback Gardner Minshew is starting for the remainder of the 2025 season.
  • The loss to the Chargers, combined with other AFC results that same weekend, eliminated Kansas City from playoff contention for the first time in nearly a decade, so there is no competitive incentive to rush his return.

What Mahomes has said

  • Mahomes posted on social media that he doesn’t “know why this had to happen” and admitted it “hurts,” but he emphasized trusting in God and promised to be back “stronger than ever.”
  • Reports indicate he began rehab almost immediately after surgery, which aligns with his reputation for intense work ethic and competitiveness.

Meta description:
Wondering “why is Mahomes out”? Patrick Mahomes is sidelined with a season- ending torn ACL in his left knee suffered vs. the Chargers in December 2025, with recovery expected to take most of 2026.

Note: Information gathered from public reports and news available on the internet and portrayed here.