The Kansas City Chiefs' QB future just took an unexpected, unfortunate twist on Sunday.
Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL, and his status for Week 1 of the 2026 season is in doubt.
Even at the super fast end of an ACL recovery timeline, Mahomes is looking at potentially being back in the Week 2 or Week 3 ballpark of next season. Any quicker than that feels bold to predict at this point.
And if the Chiefs plan on not having Mahomes by Week 1, or for an early portion of the 2026 season, it raises an interesting point:
Who will be Kansas City's QB until Mahomes gets back?
MORE: ACL recovery timeline impacts when Patrick Mahomes, Micah Parsons will return
Gardner Minshew is the current backup, and he's on a one-year contract. The Chiefs could bring him back. He's serviceable enough.
But they'll have options available to them in free agency, too.
It's an odd situation. The Chiefs would essentially be able to offer a QB a starting role on a team that will view next season as a potential bounceback toward reclaiming one of the top spots in the AFC. Except that once Mahomes is healthy, the new signee would become the backup by default.
Who might want that? Would a veteran be interested? A reclamation project? Who?
MORE: Bills may not win the AFC East — but they sent a clear warning to the rest of the NFL
The list of QBs who will be a free agent after this season includes:
- Daniel Jones
- Aaron Rodgers
- Russell Wilson
- Marcus Mariota
- Zach Wilson
- Tyrod Taylor
- Joe Flacco
- Kenny Pickett
- Jimmy Garoppolo
- Mitchell Trubisky
- Case Keenum
- Trey Lance
- Carson Wentz
Jones just tore his Achilles, so he wouldn't be in the picture and was likely going to get a big contract from the Colts otherwise, anyway.
The rest of these guys all have their warts, but a handful also have reasons for intrigue.
There's no way to predict where the Chiefs will go at the quarterback position, but it's an interesting timeline conundrum that teams don't normally face, and it could impact who winds up starting at QB in Week 1 of the 2026 season for Kansas City.
More NFL news:
- Jaxson Dart has a 50% head injury problem
- Trevor Lawrence had a game never before done by an NFL quarterback
- Mack Hollins really doesn't like wearing shoes
- Micah Parsons' injury doesn't look good
- Patrick Mahomes' injury has fans asking Tom Brady ACL question
- Commanders' All-Pro puts down fans' draft order concerns