Mahomes entered the medical tent, but was jogging on the sideline shortly thereafter. He was back in the game for Kansas City’s next drive to the uproarious applause of the fans at Arrowhead Stadium.
Despite the initial scare, he did not seem significantly hampered by the injury through the remainder of the final quarter or overtime, though it was noticeable on a few plays. On his first drive back, Mahomes orchestrated a touchdown march of 15 plays for 78 yards to take the lead, and then again drove down the field in overtime for the game-winning TD.
He was 34 of 44 for 291 yards and three touchdowns on the night, with his post-injury stat line at 11 of 15 for 102 yards and a TD.
“When he was being carried off, that wasn’t too easy, I wasn’t sure exactly where he was going to be with it,” head coach Andy Reid told reporters. “But he might have the loosest ankles in America. I mean it’s ridiculous how he can come back from those things, and then he’s mentally tough on top of that.”
Mahomes had been nursing an injury to that ankle after getting rolled up on during a Week 8 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. He was listed on the injury report throughout the week’s practices heading into Monday night, though he fully participated each day.
It’s not the first time Mahomes has played through an ankle injury, as Monday’s effort might bring to mind memories of the quarterback’s spectacular effort in playing through a sprained ankle to lead the Chiefs to a Super Bowl win two seasons ago.
Fortunately for the Chiefs, Mahomes said this rolled ankle wasn’t nearly as bad as that injury, and anticipates it being more about managing soreness with a short week ahead before facing the Broncos.
“It hurt a lot more,” Mahomes said of the 2023 injury. “I still have mobility in my ankle and still do after this game, and so obviously you’ll sleep, probably get a little swelling tomorrow, but in a short week you go in there and take care of it, and be prepared to play next week.”
