NFL stars Mahomes, Parsons both suffer ACL injuries

Two of the NFL's biggest names are now both on the injured list after Sunday's games.

Patrick Mahomes tore the ACL in his left knee while trying to keep the Kansas City Chiefs’ postseason hopes alive in the waning seconds of a 16-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, and the two-time MVP quarterback was considering surgical options.

It’s the most significant injury of a superlative nine-year career for Mahomes, who has led the Chiefs to three Super Bowl titles and reached the AFC championship game in each of his seven previous seasons as the starter in Kansas City.

This year, the Chiefs won’t even make the playoffs, and Mahomes won’t be back on the field until sometime in 2026.

Meanwhile, the Green Bay Packers' Micah Parsons is believed to have suffered a torn ACL in his left knee.

Parsons was steps away from another sack when he suddenly pulled up and fell to the ground, grabbing at his left knee. And in that moment, the Packers lost more than a showdown with the Broncos.

Parsons’ injury is a devastating blow to the Green Bay Packers (9-4-1), who lost 34-26 to Denver on Sunday to fall a half-game behind the NFC North-leading Chicago Bears.

Parsons has 12 1/2 sacks this season after the Packers acquired him from Dallas in late August for two first-round picks and three-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Kenny Clark. The Packers gave Parsons a four-year, $188 million contract with $136 million guaranteed, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in league history.


(AP Photos Reed Hoffman, Jack Dempsey)