The entire Kansas City metro area is anxiously worried about Patrick Mahomes’ injury status and the newest update seems to be positive news overall.
Mahomes suffered a mild high-ankle sprain in the fourth quarter of the victory over the Browns, notably to the other ankle instead of the same one that he’s previously had issues with. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Mahomes will be fine long-term.
That’s a positive, though it sounds like he’ll be a game-time decision for Saturday’s contest with the Texans.
New Patrick Mahomes Injury Update Emerges After Chiefs Win
Considering that Kansas City has a two-game lead over Buffalo for the No. 1 seed in the AFC, it’d make sense to let Mahomes rest and ensure he’s ready for the playoffs. Should disaster strike and his ankle gets worse, that could derail the Chiefs’ attempt to win a historic third straight Super Bowl.
Betting odds certainly suggest that Mahomes isn’t playing on Saturday. Kansas City is obviously prioritizing the postseason, so it’d be a surprise at this point if Carson Wentz isn’t at the helm this week.
The Chiefs wisely prepared for this potential disaster, signing a capable backup in Wentz who is more than qualified to fill this role. Whether Kansas City wins or loses on Saturday is mostly irrelevant. All that matters is that Mahomes stays upright and is healthy.
Houston is a capable team and one of the primary threats in the AFC. This could be a preview of a playoff matchup and based on the seeding, it likely is. There’s no reason for the Chiefs to show their hand and risk further injury to Mahomes, particularly given the specifics of the matchup.
All in all, it’s a blessing that Mahomes’ injury isn’t as bad as it could be. The city can breathe a collective sigh of relief, though fans need to keep a close eye on Mahomes for the rest of the campaign.