The Kansas City Chiefs are handling their business against the Cleveland Browns, but they’re dealing with a significant situation late in the game. Patrick Mahomes was brought to the ground on a pass attempt and it appeared pretty brutal. Mahomes was tackled and then bent backwards on the second hit. He limped off the field after the play and got tape on his ankle.
It was a failed fourth down conversion, so we’re left waiting for the next Chiefs drive to understand his status. At the time of the injury, Mahomes had completed 19 of 38 passes for 159 yards and two touchdowns. Carson Wentz is the Chiefs backup quarterback and entered the game in his place.
Mahomes was listed as questionable to return, but he didn’t need to, as the Chiefs won 21-7 over Cleveland. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said that Mahomes’ ankle isn’t broken, and that he’s day-to-day.
Here’s video of Mahomes leaving the stadium:
And here he is leaving the field.
Update: Carson Wentz appears to be heading into the game for the Chiefs, with Mahomes watching on the sidelines.
With Patrick Mahomes limping off and a 21-7 lead in Cleveland, Carson Wentz is coming on at QB for the #Chiefs.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) December 15, 2024
Wentz has appeared in just one prior game for the Chiefs this season, in mop-up duty in Kansas City’s win over the San Francisco 49ers. He completed his first two passes for Kansas City after replacing Mahomes, the completions going for a combined 20 yards.
Update Sunday night: Both Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid addressed the injury after the game. Mahomes said it was “unclear” if he would be ready to play Saturday when the Chiefs take on the Houston Texans, and that he would have a better feel for the injury on Monday.
“It’s hard to say right now,’’ Mahomes said after the game against Cleveland. “You still [have the] adrenaline rolling and usually it’s kind of the day after when you kind of get a good sense of it. I feel like I could have finished the game in different circumstances, but I thought the smart decision … was to put Carson Wentz in.
“… You just do what you have to do to get back, and I think that’s the most important thing. And now we just get back to the rehab part, the treatment part, and try to get ourselves ready on a short week against a good football team.”
According to Reid, the QB could have remained in the game but with Kansas City leading 21-7 at the time, “[t]here was no need for that.”
“He wanted to fight about it, but we’ve got a good support there behind him with Carson and it was good to get him a few reps in there too and let our guys hear that snap count in case he has to go,’’ Reid said.
“It’s sore and he’ll get started on the rehab part of it as we go, and then we’ll just have to see how he does down the road here,’’ added the Chiefs head coach.
