For the second week in a row, the Kansas City Chiefs have lost a quarterback to a serious knee injury.

After the Chiefs’ first possession in Sunday’s eventual 26-9 loss to the Tennessee Titans went three-and-out, quarterback Gardner Minshew was observed getting medical attention on the sideline. Trainers were looking at his knee. Minshew was playing in relief of superstar starting quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who tore his ACL and LCL in Week 15’s loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.

Minshew returned to the field for the Chiefs’ next four possessions, including a safety early in the second quarter that gave...

In Week 16, the Kansas City Chiefs lost 26-9 to the Tennessee Titans for their ninth loss of the season, guaranteeing a losing record in 2025.

Here are three instant takeaways from the game:

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes was masking a flawed offense

From the opening drive, it was clear the Chiefs’ offense was in a bad spot without quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Quarterback Gardner Minshew made his 47th career NFL start before exiting with a knee injury he appeared to suffer on a scramble on the opening series.

These are the four drives he captained:

• Three-and-out (with two false...

Out of the postseason race with three games remaining in the 2025 season, the Kansas City Chiefs went to Nashville in Week 16, hoping to finish a disappointing season with some positive energy. But against the Tennessee Titans, all the energy went the other way in a 26-9 road loss that dropped their record to 6-9.

First quarter

Tennessee won the coin toss and elected to defer, giving Kansas City the opening possession. The Chiefs began at their own 28, where Xavier Worthy took an end-around to the left but was forced out for no gain by...

In the NFL’s Week 16, the (6-8) Kansas City Chiefs find themselves in an unfamiliar position: eliminated from the postseason with three weeks left in the regular season. So as the Chiefs close out their schedule, they’ll have to learn what they can about their younger players as they try to finish a disappointing season on a positive note. Kansas City’s first opportunity to do all of that comes against the (2-12) Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium in Nashville.

First quarter

Tennessee won the coin toss and elected to defer, giving Kansas City the opening possession. The...

The Kansas City Chiefs have released their list of inactive players for Sunday’s game against the Tennessee Titans.

The Chiefs will be without cornerback Trent McDuffie, tackle Jaylon Moore, defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi, and wide receivers Rashee Rice and Tyquan Thornton. Joining them as healthy scratches are guard C.J. Hanson and former Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce — who signed from the practice squad to the 53-man roster on Saturday.

The Chiefs ruled out McDuffie, Moore, Nnadi, Rice, and Thornton among nine players on Friday’s final injury report. The list also included cornerback Nazeeh Johnson and rookie tight end...

Before the Kansas City Chiefs’ Week 15 matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers, every one of our Arrowhead Pride panelists picked the Chiefs to win — and for the sixth time this season, our unanimous verdict was wrong. Our aggregate prediction of a 25-18 Kansas City win had 24 points of error compared to the 16-13 home loss. Our readers were significantly less confident. But while roughly a third of them correctly predicted a close Chargers win, a majority (57%) thought the Chiefs would get back to 0.500.

*In Week 16, the Chiefs face the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium...

No longer in the playoff hunt after a frustrating 2025 season, the Kansas City Chiefs appear positioned to use their final three games as an evaluation window for younger players.

Before Thursday’s practice, assistant coaches addressed the status of several younger players, offering limited clarity on which players might see expanded roles down the stretch.

1. Wide receiver Jalen Royals

While the team’s fourth-round selection generated early buzz during training camp, he opened the season sidelined with a knee injury. Since starting wide receiver Rashee Rice returned from suspension in Week 7, Royals has rarely dressed on game days....

In our “Let’s Argue” series, our Mark Gunnels considers the hot takes, wacky predictions and unpopular opinions of Kansas City Chiefs fans from all over the world.

The Chiefs should trade Chris Jones

The line of thinking is easy to follow.

I’ll be lying if I said this idea hasn’t crossed my mind. Jones continues to get older — so if the team wants to move him, time is short. It must be done before his value plummets.

If push came to shove, the Chiefs should listen to any offers for him. But pulling the trigger? It would...

The Game

To start the three games that will round out 2025’s regular season, the (6-8) Kansas City Chiefs hit the road to play the (2-12) Tennessee Titans in Week 16. Kickoff will happen on Sunday at 12 p.m. Arrowhead Time from Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.

With starting quarterback Patrick Mahomes on the Reserve/Injured list, backup Gardner Minshew will be under center for the Chiefs. He finished last week’s 16-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers with a deflating interception, but will make his first start since Week 12 of last season with the Las Vegas Raiders.

Across...

On Saturday, the Kansas City Chiefs used their official X account to announce eight roster moves ahead of Sunday’s road game against the Tennessee Titans.

Three players are coming off the 53-man roster. Two of them — linebacker Leo Chenal and right tackle Jawaan Taylor — had already been declared out for Sunday’s game after missing all of this week’s practices with injuries. They are now being placed on the team’s Reserve/Injured list, which will end their seasons.

The third player is veteran running back Elijah Mitchell, who was signed as a free agent last March, but has been inactive...

The Kansas City Chiefs’ 2025 season ended the way these things often do: slowly — and then all at once.

Right from the start, warning signs were visible. The defensive flaws that surfaced in the opener never truly went away. The loss in Jacksonville previewed the Murphy’s Law tone that would define the year. Injuries mounted. And eventually, the dam just broke.

A team long defined by its ability to solve problems simply ran out of answers. What followed was one of the most abrupt and jarring endings to an NFL season in recent memory. A team led by head...

As the Kansas City Chiefs turn their attention to Sunday’s Week 16 matchup with the Tennessee Titans, their message has been just like those before any other game: records aside, their opponent demands respect. With the postseason out of reach — and three games remaining — Kansas City is focused on finishing with purpose. That begins with a physical test in Tennessee.

Head coach Andy Reid opened the week by pointing to Tennessee’s defense — and the way the team has responded under interim head coach Mike McCoy.

“They’re playing good football,” said Reid, “particularly on the defensive side with...