It sounds like the three-time Super Bowl MVP feels just fine ahead of the Christmas Day showdown.
Superstar Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes’ ankle injury was the biggest storyline entering a Week 16 contest against the Texans.
Mahomes quickly put concerns to bed with a 15-yard TD run on Kansas City’s first drive, and he gave an update on the ailment prior to Monday’s practice.
The Chiefs can seal the No. 1 seed in the AFC with a victory over the Steelers on Christmas Day, making Mahomes’ status once again the focal point of conversation prior to the contest.
Luckily, Mahomes expects his ankle to be even healthier on Wednesday.
Patrick Mahomes Shares Ankle Injury Update Before Christmas Day
“I think I’ll be in a better place ankle-wise,” Mahomes told reporters. “Obviously, the body’s going to be sore just with a short week and everything like that, but I think the ankle should be in a better place…We’ll see at practice today but as far as how I felt after this game compared to the one before I’m definitely in a lot better place.”
That’s fantastic news for Kansas City, especially given the injuries to guys like Chris Jones and Jawaan Taylor. A win on Wednesday would give the Chiefs more than two weeks of rest thanks to the first-round bye, which is more important for this team than perhaps any other contender.
Luckily, Mahomes showed little sign of impairment during the impressive victory against Houston.
He completed 68.3% of his passes for 260 yards and a TD, adding 33 yards and the aforementioned score on the ground. Seemingly every time he’s dealing with an ankle injury, Mahomes performs even better.
Considering the offensive line injuries and poor tackle play overall, Mahomes’ status remains a storyline to watch. T.J. Watt and the Steelers are a brutal defensive line to face, so keeping Mahomes upright is even more important than actually winning the game.
Luckily, it sounds like the three-time Super Bowl MVP feels just fine despite facing a short turnaround for the Christmas Day matchup.