It was a brutal weekend for NFL injuries.
Patrick Mahomes, Micah Parsons and Davante Adams suffered injuries Sunday that could dramatically affect the NFL for the remainder of this season and, in some cases, next year.
Here’s what we know about that trio of superstars — and what their absences mean.
MAHOMES TEARS ACL
Mahomes’ left knee buckled with less than two minutes left in Sunday’s 16-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers — a costly defeat that officially eliminated his Kansas City Chiefs from playoff contention.
The Chiefs later confirmed Mahomes suffered an ACL tear in that left knee and that he and the team were exploring surgical options.
“Don’t know why this had to happen. “And not going to lie [it] hurts,” Mahomes, 30, wrote on social media.
“But all we can do now is Trust in God and attack every single day over and over again. Thank you Chiefs kingdom for always supporting me and for everyone who has reached out and sent prayers. I Will be back stronger than ever.”
Because Mahomes’ injury occurred so late in the year, the quarterback is now at risk of missing the start of next season, too.
ACL surgeries typically carry a recovery time of eight to 12 months, according to the Bass Medical Group. And those surgeries typically do not take place until multiple weeks after the injury occurs, according to Tom Crist of the Motion Stability Physical Therapy Group.
“That would mean early January surgery which would put week 1 of 2026 about 8-8.5ish months from [the] time of surgery,” Crist wrote on social media.
“Would be extremely fast for Mahomes to play in week 1 next year. Some players have returned that fast … so not impossible, but fast. Any potential additional tissues needing healing would slow rehab even more.”
Mahomes’ injury adds even more uncertainty to the future of the Chiefs, who, after advancing to their third consecutive Super Bowl last winter — but failing to win their third in a row — are just 6-8 this season.
Mahomes’ longtime favorite target, Travis Kelce, has publicly contemplated retirement at age 36.
PARSONS HURTS KNEE, TOO
Parsons was also believed to suffer an ACL tear in his left knee, according to reports.
The star pass rusher’s non-contact injury happened during the third quarter of his Green Bay Packers’ 34-26 loss to the Denver Broncos.
All of the above information about Mahomes’ recovery timeline applies to Parsons, at least broadly speaking, but the latter’s injury could have more drastic ramifications on the rest of this NFL season.
That’s because the Packers are 9-4-1 and behind the Chicago Bears (10-4) in the NFC North.
Parsons, 26, is the best player on a defense that ranks sixth in the NFL in total defense (294.6 yards per game) and eighth in opponent score (20.1 points per game).
And while the seventh-seeded Packers are still likely to make the playoffs — NFL.com’s prediction model gives them an 88% chance — their ceiling is certainly lower without Parsons, especially if they have to enter the postseason as a wild-card team.
The Packers acquired Parsons from the Dallas Cowboys before the season for a trade haul that included two first-round picks, then signed the linebacker to a four-year, $188 million contract.
Parsons had lived up to expectations, as his 12.5 sacks are tied for the third most in the NFL.
ADAMS AGGRAVATES HAMSTRING
Adams’ hamstring issue appears less severe than Mahomes and Parsons’ knee injuries, but it comes at an inopportune time for the playoff-bound Los Angeles Rams.
The soon-to-be-33-year-old wide receiver, who has 60 receptions for 789 yards and 14 touchdowns this season, was already nursing a balky hamstring when he pulled up on a route in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 41-34 win against the Detroit Lions.
Adams remained down before walking off the field under his own power and did not return.
“He was optimistic, talking to him. He knows his body really well,” head coach Sean McVay said of Adams.
“We’ll see what that means. I can’t imagine that’s good for Thursday with just the short amount of time, but I certainly wouldn’t rule him out quite yet. But it didn’t look good.”
The Rams (11-3) are set to face the Seattle Seahawks (11-3) on Thursday night with first place in the NFC West on the line.
Los Angeles enters Week 16 as the No. 1 seed in the NFC — which comes with a first-round bye in the playoffs — but would lose that position with a loss this week.
Adams, who finished last season with the Jets, leads the NFL with 14 touchdown receptions this year.
