Chiefs face uncertain future as Patrick Mahomes has ACL surgery

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs know they will be playing out the final three games of the season without Patrick Mahomes, who had surgery Monday night to repair the torn left ACL that he sustained in a loss to the Los Angeles Chargers that eliminated them from playoff contention.

That much is clear.

The rest of the future is far more hazy for an organization that for the past decade has been playing well into January, and often into February, and then spent the offseason simply reinforcing a brilliant but suddenly aging core of star players.

Will Mahomes sufficiently recover by the start of next season? Will tight end Travis Kelce retire? And coach Andy Reid, for that matter? Will general manager Brett Veach finally hit on some skill position talent, especially in the early rounds of the draft? And can the Chiefs find someone — anyone — who is capable of pressuring the quarterback on an every-down basis?

“You know, I'm always optimistic about going forward,” Reid said Monday. “Brett Veach does a heck of a job with bringing in players. You can see now with the guys playing. And then it's our responsibility on the coaching side of it, and the players taking responsibility on their end, and playing these three games, and whoever is here after to retool it.”

The finishing kick begins with a trip to lowly Tennessee on Sunday.

Kelce recently said he would inform the Chiefs on whether he plans to retire by early March, before the start of free agency, so they have a chance to plan accordingly. Role players such as wide receiver Marquise Brown, running back Isiah Pacheco, cornerback Jaylen Watson and safety Bryan Cook are pending free agents, and there are holes throughout the roster.

The most pressing needs are at wide receiver, where Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy have failed to take the next step into becoming a No. 1 target; running back, where Pacheco and Kareem Hunt have failed to provide any pop; and defensive end, where the Chiefs have struggled to generate a pass rush throughout the season.

Oh, and quarterback. They have nobody under contract for next season besides Mahomes. The two-time MVP's surgery was performed in Dallas by Dr. Dan Cooper, the Chiefs announced, adding that Mahomes would start rehabbing right away.

“When you lose close games, you search for things,” Reid said, “because you want to fix it. And sometimes it's a penalty here, it's a turnover here. You get a variety of things. It's always one little thing that determines close games, normally. And we've had our share of those, and you can't have those. It could be the wrong play — calling the wrong play at the wrong time. We've all got a piece in this thing, and you've got to keep striving to fix it, and do what you have to do in the offseason.”

The Chiefs were concerned about their rush defense at the onset of the season, but it has been quietly stellar. They held the Chargers to just 94 yards on 29 carries — a paltry 3.2 per attempt — and repeatedly gave their offense an opportunity with the ball.

The offense. All of it. Imagine saying that five years ago. After years spent drafting at the end of Round 1, the Chiefs should be closer to the top 10, and that means a better opportunity to get an impact player to help an offense gone stagnant.

WR Tyquan Thornton has earned more time on the field. He has been the Chiefs' best big-play threat in the passing game, and the way he hauled in a long pass while taking a vicious shot late on Sunday underscored his desire to help Kansas City win.

Rice had seven catches for just 57 yards, but he also had another drop and appeared to take several plays off. Then he refused to talk to reporters who wanted to ask him about the performance after the game, leaving his teammates to do it for him.

Thornton (concussion protocol) and RT Jaylon Moore (knee) didn't finish the game against the Chargers. ... The Chiefs also had CB Trent McDuffie (knee), LT Wanya Morris (knee), Brown (personal) and RG Trey Smith (ankle) inactive.

10 — The number of consecutive years that Kansas City had qualified for the playoffs.

The Chiefs visit the Titans for a meaningless game Sunday, unless you factor in draft positioning. Then they return home for a chance to play spoiler against AFC West-leading Denver on Christmas night. The finale is on the road against the Raiders.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) gets rid of the ball during the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce heads off the field following an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton (8) is tackled by Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton (32) and linebacker Drue Tranquill during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid speaks during a news conference following an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) is injured after being tackled by Los Angeles Chargers defensive tackle Da'Shawn Hand (91) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl became the fourth-fastest active player in NHL history to reach 1,000 career points in the first period of a 6-4 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Draisaitl had the secondary assist on a power-play goal by Zach Hyman at 11:38 of the first period. He sent a pass to Connor McDavid, who slid it in front to Hyman for a one-timer past Stuart Skinner.

“It was a lot of hard work and a lot of people that helped along the way,” Draisaitl said. “These accomplishments are always directed at the player, but there are so many people that play a big part in that.”

Skinner was Draisaitl’s teammate before Edmonton traded him to Pittsburgh for Tristan Jarry on Friday.

“Whenever anyone gets a thousand points, you’re going to congratulate them, but I would’ve rather it not be on me,” Skinner said. “It’s a little bittersweet. I was his teammate for a long time and obviously he’s a great player and makes things happen every single night. Congratulations to him.”

After Hyman’s goal, the Oilers’ bench emptied and congratulated Draisaitl on the milestone in the corner.

Draisaitl scored his 1,001st point 14 seconds later on a goal by McDavid. He finished the game with four assists and now has 416 goals and 587 assists in 824 games. Draisaitl and McDavid assisted on a goal for the 136th time in their career, passing Paul Coffey and Wayne Gretzky for fourth-most by a pair of teammates in NHL history.

“He’s a special player,” McDavid said. “I can’t say enough good things. He does it every year on both sides of the rink. It’s not surprising for him to reach this accomplishment and reach it so quickly with so many great years ahead of him.”

Draisaitl, the No. 3 pick in 2014, became the 103rd player in NHL history, first German-born player and fifth in franchise history to reach 1,000 points.

Draisaitl, a four-time 50-goal scorer, who helped Edmonton reach the Stanley Cup Final the previous two seasons, is the fifth-fastest to reach the milestone among players born outside North America.

“Growing up in Germany, it seems like it was a long ways,” Draisaitl said. “It was surely just a dream. Just super grateful, super thankful and of course a little proud.”

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Edmonton Oilers' Leon Draisaitl (29) celebrates with Zach Hyman (18) and Connor McDavid after scoring during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid (97) celebrates with Leon Draisaitl (29) after scoring during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Edmonton Oilers' Leon Draisaitl (29) is swarmed by teammates after scoring during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)