Some lists read a little more desperate than others. This is one of them.
The Kansas City Chiefs are undoubtedly scrambling for quarterback help in the hours after their latest disheartening loss, a Week 16 drubbing at the hands of the Tennessee Titans. That's because QB2 Gardner Minshew went down with a torn ACL in the first quarter. The tragic injury comes one game after starting quarterback Patrick Mahomes also was lost for the year with a torn ACL and LCL in Week 15 against the L.A. Chargers.
Chris Oladokun is now the Chiefs starting quarterback with two games remaining: a Week 17 showdown against the Denver Broncos on Netflix on Christmas Day and a Week 18 game against the Las Vegas Raiders that looks a lot closer as a matchup than it did three months ago.
Oladokun had some impressive flashes as a substitute for Minshew on Sunday against the Titans, so it will be interesting to see what he has to offer with some time to prepare. Then again, the Chiefs face a short week to please the NFL's broadcasting partners, which puts K.C. in a real quandary at the position.
It's not as if Brett Veach has a list of solid options to call in the face of such a dire situation at quarterback for the Chiefs.
The Chiefs were reportedly set to turn to tight end Noah Gray, should something have happened to Oladokun. Such drastic measures work in the moment, when there's nothing to do in the face of a crippling injury. But the Chiefs aren't going to go into a game with only one real quarterback on the roster. That means a move is forthcoming.
As Minshew is set to hit injured reserve, just like Mahomes, the Chiefs will have a roster spot open for someone. The only question is where they could turn. Someone familiar with the offense could help, but that's not a long list.
Bailey Zappe
The Chiefs brought in Zappe this past offseason to compete with Oladokun for the QB3 role on the practice squad behind Mahomes and Minshew. Oladokun has himself never thrown an official pass in an NFL game despite being on the Chiefs' practice squad for each of the last three seasons, and yet Zappe couldn't unseat him in training camp and preseason games. The Chiefs released Zappe before active rosters were due and that was the end of it.
Zappe is currently on the Cleveland Browns practice squad, and he might like the idea of cashing a game check in K.C. If the Chiefs are looking for someone with the most experience with the present roster and coaching staff, Zappe is the call to make.
Ian Book
The Chiefs brought in Ian Book as a QB flyer in 2024 to see what he could add as part of the offseason roster. At the time, Mahomes and Carson Wentz were the top two quarterbacks. Oladokun once again came away with the developmental QB role on the practice squad and the Chiefs sent the former Notre Dame quarterback packing. Book had a short stint with the Philadelphia Eagles since then, but he's been a free agent all year long in '25.
Shane Buechele
Now we're starting to get into the deep cuts. Shane Buechele signed with the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent out of SMU back in 2021 and spent three full offseasons with the Chiefs. He was waived in 2023, however, and found a new spot on the practice squad of the Buffalo Bills, which is where he remains to this day. Buechele would face a learning curve if he rejoined the Chiefs, but expectations have to be low for anyone coming in with two weeks left to bolster the position.
Anthony Gordon
This is getting ridiculous, but it felt right to at least throw out one more familiar face. Gordon was a flyer on the Chiefs' 90-man offseason roster back in 2021 and 2022 in separate stints (with a short stay in Denver in between). Gordon would end up out of football thereafter, so this would be the biggest long shot of all (other than Alex Smith).
An outside free agent
If the Chiefs wanted to bring in a fresh voice into the locker room, there are a few journeymen still out there on the open market. Nate Sudfeld was let go by the San Francisco 49ers before the season began and remains a free agent. Dorian Thompson-Robinson is also available after failing to make the Philadelphia Eagles roster. The same can be said of Logan Woodside and Taylor Heinicke.