Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffered a significant injury during the team’s 21-7 win over the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field on Sunday. Mahomes had to leave the game late in the fourth quarter after he was hit both high and low in a play that resulted in an incomplete pass.
Mahomes underwent testing on Monday to determine the severity of the issue. The two-time NFL MVP suffered a mild high-ankle sprain and is considered week-to-week.
With the Chiefs playing at home against the Houston Texans on Saturday and then again against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas Day, there is speculation that Kansas City could turn to veteran quarterback Carson Wentz in one, if not both, of the games as the 13-1 Chiefs try to lock up home field advantage in the playoffs.
The Kansas City Chiefs organization has a concern
The front office has more worries than Mahomes’ effectiveness in 2024.
During an appearance on The Ryen Russillo Podcast, Sports Illustrated‘s Albert Breer claimed that people inside the Chiefs organization are worried about Mahomes’ long-term future as the lower-body injuries pile up.
“I’d hit the long-term concern here with Mahomes because I know there are people in that organization that are worried about the accumulation of lower-leg injuries,” Breer said. “And it seems like, like, often, you see him so often where he’s got guys wrapped around his ankles, basically. And he’s twisting and contorting himself to make throws.”
Does Patrick Mahomes need to relearn the position?
Breer suggested that the Chiefs’ coaching staff would need to train Mahomes on how to adjust his game, comparing the situation to how the Pittsburgh Steelers had to work with Ben Roethlisberger.
“They’re somewhere in that period. And Roethlisberger was almost a decade into the league and he’d done a lot of the same stuff,” Breer said. “Now, I’m not saying he’s Mahomes, but he had done a lot of the same stuff Mahomes had stylistically, in not being a runner but running to throw, and being this big body who could withstand the hits.
“And Todd Haley coached into him, we want you to get rid of the ball faster. You’re not going to hold up if you keep playing this way… do wonder if that’s sort of, you know, like reckoning is coming with Mahomes, and it won’t be this year, but in the next couple of years where it’s like, look dude like you’re, I think he’s 29 now.”
Is rest coming for Mahomes?
Breer argued the Chiefs should rest Mahomes against the Texans to their star quarterback up to 100% for the playoffs, even with the bye week on the line if Kansas City loses and the Buffalo Bills continue to win.
The Chiefs should rest Mahomes against the Texans, but they need him back on Christmas Day against the Steelers. Kansas City needs the bye to get their roster healthy before the playoffs. Furthermore, Mahomes needs to get reps with wide receiver Marquise Brown before the playoffs.
Unfortunately for Kansas City, the team doesn’t have time for their best player to be injured.
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