The Kansas City Chiefs finished their Week 16 loss to the Tennessee Titans with only one healthy quarterback available, third-stringer Chris Oladokun, leaving the team dangerously close to having to use a non-quarterback in an emergency role.
With injuries wiping out the depth chart and a short turnaround ahead, the situation has quickly turned critical.
The problems began before kickoff. Two-time Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes had already been ruled out for the remainder of the season because of a left knee injury, pushing Gardner Minshew into the starting role. That plan lasted just one series.
Minshew suffered a left knee injury early in the game and was forced to exit, with team officials concerned it could be a torn ACL.
That left Oladokun, making his first meaningful NFL appearance, to finish the game. He completed 11 of 16 passes for 111 yards, avoided turnovers, and managed the offense under difficult circumstances.
Still, the Chiefs‘ reality was unmistakable. If another injury had occurred, tight end Travis Kelce would have been the next option to take snaps.
The urgency is magnified by the calendar. Kansas City plays again Thursday night against the Denver Broncos, giving the front office minimal time to add depth.
If Minshew cannot clear medical evaluation, general manager Brett Veach will have little choice but to sign another quarterback immediately to support head coach Andy Reid.
Matt Cassel post draws attention amid quarterback crisis
That backdrop led to a moment that captured the desperation surrounding the franchise. Late Sunday night, former Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel acknowledged the chatter online with a post that quickly caught attention.
“Seeing a lot people mentioning me going to the Chiefs,” Cassel wrote on X. “Arm’s loose. Phone line’s open.”
Why Cassel’s name even came up
Cassel‘s post may not have been a serious pitch, but it resonated because of Kansas City‘s circumstances. He spent four seasons with the Chiefs from 2009 to 2012, earning a Pro Bowl selection in 2010 and leading the team to the playoffs. Over his career, he finished 36-45 as a starting quarterback, including a 19-28 record in Kansas City.
His reputation was established earlier, during the 2008 season with the New England Patriots. Filling in for Tom Brady after a torn ACL, Cassel threw for 3,693 yards with 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, a performance that launched his tenure as a full-time starter and eventually led him to Kansas City.
Cassel has not played in the NFL since 2018, and at 43, a comeback would be unconventional. Still, recent precedent exists. Philip Rivers returned from retirement this season and is set to make another start for the Indianapolis Colts, showing that emergency quarterback solutions can emerge from unlikely places.
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