“Don’t know why it had to happen. And not going to lie it hurts,” Mahomes said in a statement posted on social media, X, minutes before the news of his torn ACL was made public.
“But all we can do now is trust God and attack each day again and again. Thank you Chiefs Kingdom for always supporting me and for everyone who has reached out and sent prayers. I will come back stronger than ever.”
Mahomes, who had been dealing with knee problems in recent weeks, was constantly harassed by LA’s defense before the injury, getting sacked five times and getting hit more while the Chargers pass pressured him on 48.6 percent of his drops, according to Next Generation Stats.
Sunday’s loss also officially eliminated the Chiefs from postseason contention for the first time in Mahomes’ eight-year career and the first time overall since 2014.
Mahomes, a two-time division champion and three-time Super Bowl champion, had previously reached at least the AFC Championship game in every season of his career as a starting QB (since 2018).
Gardner Minshew replaced Mahomes under center for KC’s final drive, throwing a touchdown on the Chiefs’ final offensive play of the afternoon.
The Chiefs (6-8) play at the Tennessee Titans (2-12) in Week 16.