The Kansas City Chiefs’ season took a dramatic and unexpected turn. The franchise went from long-term stability at quarterback to a full-blown crisis in just weeks. Patrick Mahomes suffered injuries to his anterior cruciate ligament and related structures, which ruled him out for the rest of the year. The responsibility then shifted to Gardner Minshew, but the contingency plan also collapsed when the backup suffered a serious knee injury during the 26–9 loss to the Tennessee Titans.
With two quarterbacks sidelined, concern spread quickly through the coaching staff and front office. Andy Reid, the head coach and central figure of the project, addressed the issue publicly after the game. His message was measured but clear, signaling that the team has already begun to explore the market.“Just by numbers, if that’s the case, Brett is on it, looking at different people out there,” Reid told reporters after the game.
According to a report from Essentiallysports, the comment directly pointed to the work of general manager Brett Veach, who is evaluating options to reinforce a position that has become severely depleted. During the postgame press conference, reporters asked Reid about the difficulty of preparing Chris Oladokun and the possibility of adding another passer. Reid chose caution, but he implicitly acknowledged that the situation demands swift decisions.
Minshew’s injury worsened an already complex context. The 29-year-old quarterback looked visibly uncomfortable from the opening drive, favoring his right leg after a heavy hit. He stayed on the field briefly but left the game in the second quarter with 9:33 remaining. Although he walked to the locker room under his own power, his night ended there. Before exiting, he completed 3 of 8 passes for just 15 yards.
Andy Reid is not expected to retire this offseason, per @MikeGarafolo.
The Chiefs are missing the playoffs this year for the first time since 2014, Reid’s second season in KC. pic.twitter.com/0AEwUPmriX— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) December 21, 2025
Oladokun, familiar names, and a key decision
Chris Oladokun stepped in and finished the game with 11 completions on 16 attempts for 111 yards. However, his lack of NFL experience raises questions. He had only one prior appearance before Week 16. The Pittsburgh Steelers originally selected him in the seventh round of the 2022 Draft, released him during training camp, and he is still trying to establish himself in the league.
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Minshew could miss the final two games of the season. That scenario would open the door for Oladokun to start Thursday against the Denver Broncos. Even so, the Chiefs still need another quarterback to provide depth and handle practice duties. Sports Illustrated mentioned several possible names: Bailey Zappe, currently on the Cleveland Browns’ practice squad; Shane Buechele, part of the Buffalo Bills’ practice squad; and Ian Book, a free agent who had a brief stint with Kansas City in 2024.
The situation forces Andy Reid to maneuver quickly and precisely. Regardless of who walks through the team facility doors, the priority remains clear: maintain competitiveness and finish a season defined by adversity at the most important position in football.
