Chiefs place Gardner Minshew on IR after injury update news.
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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Gardner Minshew will be placed on IR.
The Kansas City Chiefs opened free agency on Monday, March 9 with largely good news, though the loss of backup quarterback Gardner Minshew presents some serious questions for the franchise heading into the start of the 2026 season this fall.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Minshew is leaving the organization after just one year to join the Arizona Cardinals, where he will presumably have a chance to start depending on how the quarterback market shakes out over the next couple of months.
“Source: Former Chiefs QB Gardner Minshew II reached agreement today on a one-year, $8.25 million deal with the Arizona Cardinals,” Schefter wrote on X.
Minshew, who will play next year at 30, appeared in four games for Kansas City in 2025, including one start (0-1), before suffering a season-ending injury to his left knee. He completed 6-of-13 passes for 37 yards and an interception.
The payday of north of $8 million, plus the pending release of two-time Pro Bowl quarterback Kyler Murray in Arizona on Wednesday, adds up to the Cardinals possibly bringing in Minshew to serve as a bridge-starter for one year in 2026.
Arizona was involved in conversations around the free agency of former Green Bay Packers quarterback Malik Willis, though he inked a three-year deal with the Miami Dolphins Monday.
The Cardinals are also suitors to trade for Chicago Bears backup signal-caller Tyson Bagent, though there is no guarantee he’s actually on the market. And even if Bagent is available, he could cost a Day 2 pick to acquire, which might be an overpay for an Arizona team starting what could prove an extensive rebuild.
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GettyKansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
The news is a bit of a blow for the Chiefs, who presumably won’t know for months whether injured quarterback Patrick Mahomes will be ready to return to the field in Week 1 following an ACL/LCL tear he suffered against the Los Angeles Chargers in December.
Kansas City’s best-case scenario is that Mahomes is back for the season-opener. However, the worst-case scenario could see his rehabilitation, combined with an abundance of caution from the franchise, keep Mahomes sidelined into early October.
Ben Solak of ESPN suggested on February 10 that the best path for the Chiefs might be to pay Minshew to return and serve as a placeholder to start next season while Mahomes gets back to game-ready status.
“The Chiefs might simply return Minshew and hope to get Mahomes back by Week 5, but they’re a good candidate for a veteran free agent addition, as well,” Solak wrote.
It now appears that free agency is the path the Chiefs will have to tread.
Chiefs Must Hunt for Veteran Backup QB in Free Agency
geno smith
GettyQuarterback Geno Smith, formerly of the Las Vegas Raiders.
Who that player might be is something that Kansas City will suss out over the coming days, as the market for older veterans probably won’t be ultra competitive or urgent in the first wave of free agency.
Options for the Chiefs might include Kirk Cousins and Geno Smith, both of whom will get their releases from the Atlanta Falcons and Las Vegas Raiders, respectively. Joe Flacco could also be in play.
The bigger question/concern could be which available veteran QB is willing to take a backup job behind a surefire starter in Mahomes once he returns, presumably sooner than later in the upcoming season?
All three of the aforementioned quarterbacks are liable to look for starting opportunities, so Kansas City could be involved against its will in a game of QB musical chairs over the coming days/weeks.