Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes doesn't want to leave the field despite his injury and insists he'll play in Saturday's game against Houston Texans. According to ESPN.
Patrick Mahomes injury update
Andy Reid: "We have absolute confidence in Carson Wentz".
Kansas City Chiefs starting quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffered an injury this past game against Cleveland and was unable to finish. At this point, it is known that the injury is not serious.
"If Wentz has to step on the field, I think everyone on the team is confident that he'll perform great," Reid said, "He's had a job in the starting lineup before and he's thrived well in it. I like everything about him and I think he should reclaim the starter's role in this League in the future, he's a great player."
Mahomes participated in Tuesday's practice without restrictions, and for now the Chiefs continue to battle the Buffalo Bills for the No. 1 seed in the AFC, as they also won on Sunday. Consequently, he will be the one to be prepared for the game against Texans.
What happened to Patrick Mahomes in Chiefs-Browns Game
Okay, not a good sight in the Chiefs-Browns game. Here's the situation:
The Chiefs are up 14 points, trying to convert on fourth down and ice the game. Being up three scores with around 8 minutes left, they're in a pretty good spot either way, but they decide to go for it. Patrick Mahomes throws an incomplete pass, but no one really cares about that because Mahomes is clearly shaken up. He comes right off the field; the game doesn't stop.
I don't know why he didn't take his time. He could have gone down! You don't need to go that hard just to get off the field. Say what you want about Mahomes, he is anything but soft, but this is the last sight any Chiefs fan wants to see.
So what happened? This is the best angle to showcase it. It's one of those awkward situations where a player gets hit high and low. A defender wraps him up on his legs, which is a legal play, but here's what I think went wrong: You see how the chest area of that Browns player is on the back of Mahomes's legs? Mahomes is also getting hit up high; there is some helmet-to-helmet contact. Let's be honest, a lot of times we see that called as a penalty.
Related: Patrick Mahomes: From Overlooked Recruit to NFL King
Although Mahomes is going down, you could argue the defender couldn't have done anything to prevent it. But look at Mahomes's ankles – you see how they're in awkward positions? The defender goes down on top of him, and that's how the ankle injury happened.
These things are unpredictable. We've seen guys with an ankle injury play the next week, and we've seen guys miss half a season. If Mahomes has to miss a couple of games, keep in mind the Chiefs have multiple short weeks coming up. They play on Saturday and then on Wednesday, Christmas Day. If he misses those games against Houston Texans and Pittsburgh Steelers, it could cost them the one seed.
Related: 10 Facts You Didn't Know About Patrick Mahomes
It is worth mentioning that Mahomes did not play the rest of the game; Carson Wentz went in. It was kind of a blowout, so maybe that factored into the decision. Who knows?
Conclusion
Chiefs fans were understandably worried when Patrick Mahomes suffered an ankle injury against the Browns in Week 15. The initial diagnosis was a high ankle sprain, and with a tight schedule ahead (games against the Texans and Steelers on Saturday and Wednesday, respectively), his availability is uncertain.
Mahomes is known for his toughness, but this type of injury can be unpredictable in terms of recovery time. Some players bounce back quickly, while others miss significant portions of the season. This particular injury occurred when Mahomes was hit high and low simultaneously, with a defender landing on his legs as they were awkwardly positioned.
While he has been relatively healthy throughout his career, this ankle injury is a cause for concern as the Chiefs fight for the top seed in the AFC. Fans will be eagerly awaiting further updates on his condition and hoping for a speedy recovery.
For more detailed information and analysis of Mahomes' injury, you can check out the latest injury reports and expert opinions.