Patrick Mahomes has been sidelined for the season and will not be a part of what could be his long-time friend and teammate, Travis Kelce's, final game at home. The Kansas City Chiefs TE has not given a definitive answer amid retirement rumors, saying he is focusing on the remaining games this season. This comes as Andy Reid and co take on the Denver Broncos on Christmas Day.
Patrick Mahomes #15 and Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs walk off the field together (Getty Images via AFP)
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Mahomes tore his ACL in Week 15, ending his season. Now, insiders reveal that the Chiefs QB could be out for a massive part of the 2026 season too. He is expected to miss about 9 to 12 months, NFL Media's Ian Rapoport reported. That puts his return timeline to mid-September next year.
Unfortunate Travis Kelce update
Kelce has played 96 regular-season home games for the Kansas City Chiefs. The Christmas matchup could be his last. The 36-year-old is expected to decide on retirement after this season.
“What Travis has done to this organization, to his teammates, his coaches, this city — it's special,” Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy said. “I hope like hell that's not true. I just have so much respect for him.”
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“I'd rather just keep the focus on this team right now,” Kelce said last week, “and all the conversations I have with the team and everything moving forward will be with them. And I think it's a unique time in my life, and unfortunately I know when the season ends this year. Typically we go into it and we don't know when it will end.”
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“I'd rather just keep the focus on this team right now,” Kelce said last week, “and all the conversations I have with the team and everything moving forward will be with them. And I think it's a unique time in my life, and unfortunately I know when the season ends this year. Typically we go into it and we don't know when it will end.”
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Just before the Broncos game, Kelce was in the middle of a controversy. With the Chiefs out of the postseason race, he has put off media requests over the last three games. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk noted that this is a violation of the league’s rules for player availability.
“Players have been fined in the past, if/when the failure to comply with media obligations becomes chronic, and if the media covering the team complains about it. Sometimes, the media doesn’t make waves,” PFT said.
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.
Catch all the latest Sports News, scores, and highlights in one place. Stay updated with real-time coverage of your favorite games and athletes along with Lionel Messi latest updates.
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Home/Sports/Us Sports/Patrick Mahomes injury update: Chiefs get unfortunate Travis Kelce news ahead of ‘farewell’ game
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