Patrick Mahomes is not playing right now because he tore the ACL (and, in some reports, also the LCL) in his left knee during a late‑game loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 15 of the 2025 NFL season, which ended his 2025 campaign and put his availability for the start of 2026 in doubt.

What happened to Mahomes?

  • Late in a must‑win game against the Chargers in December 2025, Mahomes’ left knee buckled as he was hit while scrambling, and he left the game with an apparent leg injury.
  • Subsequent MRI results confirmed a torn ACL in his left knee, with additional reporting that he also suffered LCL damage, making the injury more severe.
  • The Chiefs quickly ruled him out for the rest of the 2025 season, effectively ending both his year and the team’s realistic playoff hopes.

Official updates and surgery

  • The Chiefs and head coach Andy Reid confirmed the ACL tear and said Mahomes would seek surgical options, including a second opinion before the procedure.
  • Reports later stated that Mahomes underwent successful surgery on his left knee and immediately began a structured rehabilitation program.
  • Team and medical staff indicated there was no nerve or artery damage, which improves the outlook for a full recovery, but they did not guarantee he would be ready for the very start of the 2026 season.

Recovery timeline and when he might play

  • Typical recovery time for an NFL quarterback after an ACL reconstruction is roughly 9–12 months, sometimes longer when multiple ligaments (like ACL and LCL) are involved.
  • Because the injury happened in mid‑December 2025, that timeline overlaps with the entire offseason and likely training camp, so there is real uncertainty about whether he will be ready in time for Week 1 of the 2026 season.
  • Analysts and team insiders generally frame his return as “possible but not guaranteed” for the start of 2026, depending on how rehab progresses and whether there are any setbacks.

What Mahomes and the Chiefs have said

  • Mahomes posted a message on X (Twitter) thanking Chiefs fans, admitting the injury “hurts,” and promising he will “be back stronger than ever,” emphasizing his mindset of attacking rehab day by day.
  • Andy Reid and teammates have publicly expressed confidence that Mahomes will fully recover, praising his work ethic and support system around him.
  • Local and national coverage notes that the Chiefs plan to use this window to reassess roster construction—especially offensive line depth and overall offensive balance—so the team is less dependent on Mahomes to carry everything when he returns.

Why this is such a big story

  • Mahomes’ absence removes one of the league’s most dominant quarterbacks from the field, and for the first time in years, Kansas City finished a season without meaningful late‑season or playoff football with him under center.
  • Commentators point out that his injury highlights how heavily the Chiefs had leaned on his playmaking to cover issues like pass protection and an inconsistent supporting cast on offense.
  • Across forums and sports media, the phrase “why is Patrick Mahomes not playing” has become shorthand for a broader conversation about the risks of over‑relying on a single superstar in a violent, physically demanding sport.

TL;DR: Patrick Mahomes is not playing because he suffered a torn ACL (and reportedly LCL) in his left knee in a Week 15 game against the Chargers in December 2025, had season‑ending surgery, and is now in rehab with an uncertain but hopeful timeline to return sometime around the 2026 season.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.