Patrick Mahomes suffered a season-ending ACL tear in Week 15. These injuries typically require at least nine months to recover from.
Mahomes has already had his surgery, and he’s an elite athlete who will stop at nothing to return to top form as quickly as he can. However, there’s only so much he can do.
There’s a chance he won’t be ready to start by Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season. If not, the Chiefs will have to have another quarterback ready to go. Speculation has already begun on who the Chiefs may turn to.
Recently, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler suggested Cincinnati Bengals backup QB Joe Flacco could be an ideal fit for Kansas City in the short term, until Mahomes is ready to return to the field.
“Patrick Mahomes faces a lengthy recovery from his torn ACL, and given the team’s struggles this season, the Chiefs might need steady reinforcements for Week 1. Joe Flacco is the kind of QB who would make some sense.”
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on Chiefs/Joe Flacco
While Mahomes could be ready for the start of next season, the Chiefs can’t exactly wait. They’ll need to start making plans for their rebuilt QB room in March, and they won’t know where Mahomes’ status will be in September at that point.
Thus, bringing in a free agent like Flacco could make a lot of sense. As we’ve seen time and time again, the former Super Bowl winner is capable of leading a productive passing offense, even if he tends to put the ball in dangerous places.
Plus, if Mahomes is ready to go by Week 1, the Chiefs can always trade Flacco just as he was earlier this season, or just keep him as a high-level backup on a potential playoff team.
Related: 11 Kansas City Chiefs QB Solutions in 2026 After Patrick Mahomes ACL Injury
Sports fan since birth. I am also passionate about cars, music, and anything funny. Minnesotan, born and raised. Maybe … More about Andrew Buller-Russ