Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs have avoided the worst-case scenario with his ankle injury.
The 29-year-old Patrick Mahomes suffered an ankle injury in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 21-7 road win over the Cleveland Browns after taking a hit from defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson. With Mahomes out, quarterback Carson Wentz finished the game.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Mahomes suffered “a mild high-ankle sprain.” The three-time Super Bowl champion is considered week-to-week, though Rapoport added he may practice this week.
Mahomes finished the day with 19 completions on 38 pass attempts for 159 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. With the win, the 13-1 Chiefs inch closer to securing the AFC’s top seed and a first-round bye.
The #Chiefs will know more as the practice week rolls on, and there is a chance that Patrick Mahomes practices this week. He’s week-to-week, so his status this week is in doubt.
Most importantly: “He’ll be fine long-term,” a source said. https://t.co/TqBZtDIiOH
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 16, 2024
Patrick Mahomes has only missed two games in his career because of an injury. That was back in the 2019 season, when he suffered a knee injury in a game against the Denver Broncos. He was rested in the regular season finales in 2020 and 2023 with playoff spots already locked up.
Through his first 14 games of 2024, Mahomes has a 66.7 completion percentage for 3,348 yards, 22 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. It’s not his best statistical season by any means, but like last year’s Super Bowl-winning season, KC just keeps finding new ways to win.
Chiefs Can Take It Easy With Patrick Mahomes
The Buffalo Bills (11-3) hold the head-to-head tiebreaker on the Chiefs, but they’re two games back with only three games remaining. Buffalo has to somehow pick up two games on the defending champions, and that feels like an awfully tall task at this point of the season.
So Kansas City can afford to take it easy with Mahomes here. Even if they don’t get the AFC’s top seed, well, don’t forget that they won in Buffalo during the 2023 Divisional Round. Mahomes’ long-term health is the most pivotal part of a potential three-peat.
