The Kansas City Chiefs confirmed on Sunday that quarterback Patrick Mahomes tore the ACL in his left knee during the fourth quarter of their 16–13 defeat against the Los Angeles Chargers.

In a statement released after the game, the team said it is currently reviewing potential surgical treatments for the injury sustained by its franchise quarterback.

Mahomes exited the game late in the fourth quarter and was first examined inside the medical tent on the sideline before being assisted to the locker room. According to the team, he had already been managing a left knee issue over the previous two weeks, which may have complicated the situation.

Head coach Andy Reid addressed the injury following the loss, saying he could not immediately determine its severity. However, he acknowledged that the incident appeared concerning and emphasized that further evaluations would clarify the next steps.

Mahomes later shared his thoughts on social media, expressing both frustration and determination. He admitted the setback was painful but said he planned to rely on faith and perseverance, vowing to work relentlessly toward recovery and return even stronger.

The injury occurred after Mahomes took a hit from Chargers defensive end Da’Shawn Hand. He struggled to stand on his own and was visibly limping along the sideline. Backup quarterback Gardner Minshew took over with Kansas City trailing by three points, but the Chiefs’ comeback attempt ended when Minshew threw an interception to Chargers safety Derwin James, effectively sealing the outcome.

The loss officially ended Kansas City’s postseason hopes, marking the franchise’s first failure to qualify for the playoffs since the 2014 season.

Minshew described the mood in the locker room as somber after the game, noting that Mahomes was clearly shaken by the injury. He added that it had been a challenging season overall and emphasized that no one on the team was unaffected by the difficult circumstances.