Week 15 of the 2025 NFL season delivered one of the most dramatic injury weekends the league has seen in years, with two of its biggest stars sustaining season‑ending knee injuries that could reshape the playoff picture and offseason priorities.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament during the final moments of his team’s 16‑13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chiefs, already on the brink of missing the playoffs, saw their hopes vanish as Mahomes went down, marking a rare and painful moment in the franchise’s recent history. An MRI confirmed the ACL tear, but fortunately showed that no additional major ligaments in his knee were damaged. Head coach Andy Reid expressed cautious optimism about Mahomes’ recovery timeline, although surgery is imminent and questions remain about when he will return to full strength. The injury not only ends Mahomes’ 2025 season but also forces Kansas City to pivot into a challenging offseason, especially coming in a year when they failed to secure a postseason berth.
Meanwhile, in Green Bay, Packers defensive standout Micah Parsons also suffered a torn ACL in a non‑contact knee injury during his team’s 34‑26 loss to the Denver Broncos. The MRI confirmation of the tear effectively ends Parsons’ season and deals a devastating blow to the Packers’ defense and Super Bowl aspirations. The loss of Parsons, acquired in a high‑profile trade and widely regarded as one of the game’s premier pass rushers, significantly weakens Green Bay’s front seven at a critical moment in the race for playoff positioning.
In better news for the Packers, wide receiver Christian Watson, who exited the game with a chest injury, received a relatively positive prognosis and may return to the field.
These twin ACL injuries to two marquee players underscore the brutal physical toll of an NFL season and set the stage for significant changes for both the Chiefs and the Packers as they approach the final weeks of regular‑season play and look toward the offseason.