With their season officially over, the Kansas City Chiefs are parting ways with their emergency quarterback.
Chiefs reporter Nick Jacobs noted on Monday that the team waived backup quarterback Shane Buechele, who had made his NFL debut in the team’s loss to the Las Vegas Raiders just hours before. Buechele had been signed late in the season after the Chiefs suffered a pair of major injuries, but now he will have the chance to rejoin his former squad and return to the playoffs.
Chiefs Make Quick Work After Season Finale
The Chiefs had poached Buechele from the Buffalo Bills‘ practice squad after losing starter Patrick Mahomes and backup Gardner Minshew to season-ending injuries in successive weeks. The Chiefs turned to their own practice squad quarterback, Chris Oladokun, as the starter with Buechele as backup.
A former practice squad quarterback with the Chiefs before joining the Bills, Buechele got his first taste of NFL action in Sunday’s loss to the Raiders. He completed 7-of-14 passes for 88 yards.
Buechele will go through waivers, and if he goes unclaimed would be able to sign with a new team. That could likely mean a return to Buffalo, where the Bills are preparing for a wild-card playoff game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Bills turned to backup Mitch Trubisky for most of Sunday’s win over the New York Jets, allowing starter Josh Allen to rest.
Bills head coach Sean McDermott has been full of praise for Buechele, who serves both as the team’s No. 3 quarterback and a coach of sorts for
TAllen. Buechele is known as an expert in throwing mechanics and has helped Allen become more efficient with his throws.
After the Chiefs signed Buechele from Buffalo’s practice squad, McDermott said he was happy that the longtime backup had a chance to play in an NFL game.
“I think more than anything, I’m happy for Shane,” McDermott said, via SI.com.
“He and his family, they’ve been with us and done a phenomenal job and have a ton of respect and love and admiration for Shane,” McDermott added.
Patrick Mahomes on Track for Recovery
Mahomes has already undergone surgery for a torn ACL and LCL that ended his season in Week 15, and head coach Andy Reid said the two-time league MVP is moving along well. ESPN’s Nate Taylor noted that Reid shared praise for the approach Mahomes is taking to his rehab.
“Andy Reid on Patrick Mahomes’ rehab: He’s doing great for just being 3 weeks out. He’ll go ahead & most likely stay up here (in KC) rehabbing,” Taylor shared in a post on X. “He has a lot of trust in (Julie Frymyer). He’s been in there grinding.”
It’s not clear yet if Mahomes could miss any part of the 2026 season, but the Chiefs will likely face a quarterback decision in the coming months. Minshew’s contract is up after this season ends, and the team will decide whether to try bringing him back on a new contract or moving on to another backup quarterback — potentially one who could start the 2026 season while Mahomes finishes up his rehab.The Kansas City Chiefs parted ways with quarterback Shane Buechele hours after losing their season finale to the Las Vegas Raiders.
Chiefs Part Ways With QB Hours After Losing Season Finale