Here's why final 2025 regular-season games are important for Garnder Minshew

With Mahomes shelved, Chiefs need a quarterback to navigate upcoming offseason

The Chiefs will enter the offseason with a lot of question marks on the roster.

One of the roster spots now includes a must-have position and could be answered in the next three games.

The situation takes on importance when considering Patrick Mahomes is recovering from ACL/LCL surgery, which is projected to keep him out of action for at least nine months.

The timeline means Mahomes is set to miss all of organized team activities (OTAs), mid-June’s mandatory minicamp and a good chunk — if not all — of training camp.

Simply put, the Chiefs need a signal-caller during the 2026 offseason workout months.

Enter veteran backup quarterback Gardner Minshew, who has a chance to prove he belongs with a view to extending his stay in Kansas City.

“As sick as Gardner is over the whole thing, he also has an opportunity and wants to do well,” coach Andy Reid said. “It’s great for him career-wise, whether it’s here or somewhere else.”

Minshew, who signed a one-year, $1.17 million deal with the Chiefs during the past offseason, is not taking the situation for granted.

“It’s an opportunity to step in and do my job,” Minshew said. “Being how there’s a lot of guys that have put a ton of work into this, I owe it to them.

“I owe it to this coaching staff, this team, this fan base to go out and do my best to give us the best chance to win.”

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