Patrick Mahomes practiced Tuesday despite dealing with an apparent sprained ankle.
Mahomes was listed as a full participant in a short week of practice ahead of a high-stakes matchup against the Houston Texans. He left Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns after getting injured. He said he doesn’t know if he’ll be able to play on Saturday, but he does know what he’ll have to do if he plays.
“I want to be able to move. I want to be able to get out of the way,” Mahomes said, adding that the Texans have a dangerous pass rush. The Texans have the second-most sacks in the NFL this season with 45, just four behind the Denver Broncos for the league lead.
“You don’t want to go out and put yourself in danger. It’s football. You’re going to get hit, but you want to be able to protect yourself,” Mahomes said.
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Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson (94) helps Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) after a tackle during the third quarter at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland on December 15, 2024. (Scott Galvin/Image Images)
If Mahomes can’t go, the Chiefs will have to rely on backup Carson Wentz, a former Philadelphia Eagle. Wentz last started a game in the final week of last season for the LA Rams, leading the team to a 21-20 victory over the San Francisco 49ers.
Mahomes will play if he doesn’t limit the offense.
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“I don’t want to limit the game plan,” Mahomes said. “That’s another thing for me. I want to be able to keep moving around the pocket so we’re not sitting in one spot the entire game and leading the D-line to chase it. So, it’s about finding that balance and seeing where I am and “Like I said, I won’t know until closer to the end of this week.”
The Chiefs are in a race to maintain their grip on first place in the AFC. At 13-1, they have the best record in the league and have a two-game lead over the Buffalo Bills for a first-round bye. But the Bills would have the tiebreaker over the Chiefs if they finish with the same record because Buffalo beat Kansas City, 30-21, on Nov. 17.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes watches the game during the second half against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
So, the Chiefs just need one more win to secure first place. Their final three games against the Texans, Steelers and Broncos will pit Mahomes and company against three playoff teams. The Steelers and Broncos have two of the best defenses in the league.
The game against the Texans comes at a bad time because Mahomes suffered the injury on Sunday with only six days to prepare for the Texans.
The Chiefs will also have to turn around and play just three nights after that in a Christmas Day game Wednesday at Pittsburgh.
Mahomes previously complained about the scheduling in a press conference last week.
“It’s not a good feeling,” Mahomes told reporters. “You never want to play this many games in such a short amount of time. It’s not good for your body. But at the end of the day, it’s your job, your profession. You have to come to work and do it.”
Mahomes was asked if he had ever played three games in such a short span.
“I haven’t done it in football,” he responded.
“All you can do is focus on the game. The practice you have that day,” Mahomes added. “I try to prepare my body throughout the year for this stretch. That is adapting my training, adapting how you practice and prepare.
“And the coaches do a great job taking care of us on the practice field. We practice as hard as anyone, but they know how to slow it down when necessary.”
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes kisses his wife, Brittany Mahomes, before the start of the game against the Detroit Lions on Sept. 7, 2023, at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Tammy Ljungblad/The Kansas City Star/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Mahomes faces injuries, dangerous defenses and a grueling holiday schedule, and will have to play on Christmas for the second straight season.
He will have to deal with this while facing the pressure of caring for his pregnant wife. Brittany Mahomes is reportedly in her third trimester of pregnancy, according to her trainer, Kristy Rae.
“The third trimester is my favorite time of pregnancy when it comes to working out,” Rae wrote in a recent Instagram video about Brittany’s workouts. “There are studies that show that your body basically goes into superhuman mode to prepare for childbirth.”
