Chiefs urged to use familiar QB face as Patrick Mahomes' temporary injury replacement

Contributor
Billy Heyen
Chiefs urged to use familiar QB face as Patrick Mahomes' temporary injury replacement image

It'll be a while before the Kansas City Chiefs know for sure exactly when Patrick Mahomes will be able to return from his torn ACL.

There's certainly a chance he won't be ready for Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season. And if that's the case, they'll need to find a temporary starter.

There will be a variety of fascinating QBs available in free agency this offseason. There's also the trade market.

NFL.com's Nick Shook thinks the Chiefs should keep it simple, though, and just bring back Gardner Minshew.

MORE: Cam Ward can add John Harbaugh to his list of doubters

Minshew spent the 2025 season as Mahomes' backup before getting hurt himself late in the year. But he's got a comfort level with the whole operation.

As long as Kansas City feels good about its first experience with Minshew, it'd make a lot of sense.

"Minshew suffered a season-ending knee injury of his own, but it wasn't an ACL tear," Shook writes. "He should be ready to play sooner than Mahomes, bringing veteran backup experience to a Kansas City team that suddenly needs it more than ever. If the Chiefs receive optimistic news on Mahomes' timetable for return, they might only temporarily need a steady hand to keep the offense afloat to start the season. Minshew proved his worth as an injury replacement in 2023, when he filled in for Anthony Richardson in Indianapolis and kept the Colts in postseason contention."

Minshew is always a fan favorite kind of player thanks to his mustache and energetic play style.

The key to whoever the Chiefs use as a Mahomes fill-in is to try and not fall too far behind the eight-ball early in the year. They want to bounce back in 2026 from a 6-11 season that no one saw coming.

Minshew is likely a solid caretaker, if the Chiefs believe they need him.

More NFL news: