Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid told reporters Tuesday that quarterback Patrick Mahomes, hampered by a mild ankle sprain, will attempt to practice with the team on Tuesday.
Mahomes injured his ankle during Sunday’s 21-7 win over the Cleveland Browns. Mahomes was helped to the sidelines and did not return to the game to end the fourth quarter.
Mahomes injured his ankle after being tackled by Dalvin Tomlinson. Mahomes hopped to the sidelines and Wentz replaced him on the field, but the Chiefs star quarterback insisted he would have returned to the field if the Browns had managed to get within a touchdown two.
He received his first treatments on the plane to Missouri, and he spent more than 12 hours on the athletic therapist’s table at the team’s training complex Monday, despite the fact that most of his teammates were receiving of a day off.
After the game, Reid explained that Mahomes had a sore ankle and said his condition would be evaluated on a weekly basis.
On Tuesday, Reid said Mahomes would jump on the practice field. “We’ll see how he feels.” His quarterback was actually in training without any mention on the team medical report. However, it should be noted that the players had not put on their uniforms and there were no contact exercises.
Mahomes’ bye week will be shortened by one day as the Chiefs face the Houston Texans on Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium.
Mahomes was optimistic Monday about his recovery.
“I’m going to put in the work in training and try to go as far as I can to see how far I can go. But at the end of the day, I’m not going to put our team in a bad position. So if I feel like I can play and win a football match, I will play. And if I don’t play, I’ll leave Carson [Wentz] take over. »
Mahomes added that he will try to push himself this week to make the “best decision.”
Mahomes was back on the field Tuesday with Carson Wentz, in a supporting role.
“You don’t want to find yourself on the field and put yourself in a precarious position. It’s football. You’re going to get hit. But you have to be able to protect yourself, Mahomes said. And I don’t want to be the one to limit the game plan. I want to be able to move around in the backfield.”
If Mahomes can’t play, he and his coach said they have full confidence in Wentz. “He is a very talented player who works extremely hard, and he will be ready if his number is called. »
Wentz told reporters Tuesday that he “felt good” when he entered the game Sunday.
This week, Wentz will not change the way he trains. “Nothing is going to change this week. Obviously, Pat had a few cuts and bruises all year. And I prepared like I was going to play every week. So from my side, nothing is really going to change. »
We especially remember the one he suffered during the 2023 NFL playoffs, when Mahomes was injured during a game against the Jaguars. He then shrugged off the pain and disposed of the Cincinnati Bengals for the American Association title, before beating the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl.
The Chiefs (13-1) are two games ahead of the Buffalo Bills for first place in the American League. The Bills, however, hold the tiebreaker. The Texans are assured of the title in the South section of the American, while the Steelers lead in the North section of the American and are qualified for the playoffs.
