The Kansas City Chiefs have not only lost their last playoff hopes, but also Patrick Mahomes. The star quarterback suffered a serious knee injury and posted about it on social media.

Everything negative about this NFL season seemed to come together for the Kansas City Chiefs in their game against the Los Angeles Chargers – and then some.

Once again, the Chiefs disappointed across the board, with Patrick Mahomes not playing well. And then the quarterback suffered a serious injury.

In the final stages of the game, Mahomes’ left knee was badly hyperextended after a tackle, and the 30-year-old went down and held his knee in visible pain. Although Mahomes was able to leave the field on his own after a lengthy treatment break, he was clearly limping.

NFL: Patrick Mahomes successfully operated on

Shortly afterwards, the shocking diagnosis followed. As Kansas City announced after the game, Mahomes had torn his cruciate ligament.

The Chiefs have since announced that Mahomes underwent successful cruciate ligament surgery in Dallas on Monday evening. The subsequent examination showed that the collateral ligament (LCL) in his knee was also torn. However, this should not normally prolong his downtime. Nevertheless, he will not only miss the rest of the current season, but also likely a large part of the 2026 preseason. Whether he will be fit in time for the start of the coming season is currently more than uncertain.
Mahomes: “I don’t know why this had to happen.”

Before the news of his cruciate ligament injury became public, the Chiefs star took to social media to express his regret at the circumstances.

“I don’t know why this had to happen. And I’ll be honest: it hurts. But all we can do now is trust in God and give it our all every day. Thanks to the Chiefs Kingdom for always supporting me, and to everyone who has sent me their sympathy and prayers. I will come back stronger than ever,” he wrote. Mahomes, who had been struggling with a knee problem in recent weeks, was constantly pressured by the Los Angeles Chargers’ defense before his injury. He was sacked five times and suffered several other hits. In his highly successful career, he has so far been spared any major injuries.

NFL: Chiefs miss playoffs for first time since 2014

Backup Gardner Minshew took over the offense for the final plays against the Chargers, but his interception sealed the 13-16 defeat.

The serious injury to their playmaker is the ultimate culmination of a horror season for the Chiefs, which came to a premature end against the Chargers. The results in the other games mean that Kansas City no longer has a chance of making the playoffs. For the first time since the 2014 season and ever in the Mahomes era, the postseason will take place without the Chiefs. And the coming season is already looking bleak.