Patrick Mahomes Injury Update: ‘He won’t have to back off,’ Andy Reid says

Kansas City Chiefs fans held their breath Monday night after quarterback Patrick Mahomes went down with a painful ankle injury during a game-winning performance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  After completing a touchdown pass, Mahomes appeared visibly distressed, sparking concerns among fans and team members alike. However, the Chiefs’ star quickly rebounded, jogging back to rejoin the offense and finishing the game without missing a snap.

Despite his return, Mahomes’ ankle has been a major topic of concern, especially with the Chiefs facing a short week to prepare for the Denver Broncos.  Speaking with reporters on Wednesday, Mahomes shared that while the ankle is a bit sore, he feels optimistic about his ability to manage it in practice and to play against Denver on Sunday.

“It’s doing good,” Mahomes stated. “Obviously, when you have a little bit of a roll, it’s a little bit sore, but I’m able to move around, and I look forward to getting out at practice and seeing how I can push it as the week goes on.”

A careful approach to recovery

As Mahomes explained, his post-game recovery involved immediate care and therapies to reduce swelling, allowing him to maintain mobility for the week ahead.  The Chiefs quarterback emphasized that he started treatment immediately after the game, using both in-stadium resources and at-home care to help manage the discomfort.

“You can only do so much,” Mahomes noted. “Obviously, it was pretty late, but getting some stuff in the training room after the game and getting some stuff to take home, you throw it on there, stuff you can do overnight that you put on there to reduce swelling and stuff like that.  “But you come in early [Tuesday] morning, it was a long day yesterday of watching film and getting treatment and doing some rehab-type stuff and prepare yourself for a short week and a practice today.”

His experience in managing injuries was evident as Mahomes compared this ankle issue with a more severe high-ankle sprain he suffered in 2023 during the playoffs against the Jacksonville Jaguars.  Fortunately, he reassured fans and teammates that his current injury allows for more mobility than his playoff setback.  “No, I think just because the one in the playoffs a couple years ago was a little bit [because] how I got tackled, and it had got stuck, and it hurt a lot more,” Mahomes explained. “I still have mobility in my ankle, and I still did after this game.”

Chiefs coach confirms no need to limit Mahomes’ practice

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid was quick to assure fans that Mahomes’ current ankle issue wouldn’t prevent him from maintaining a full practice schedule. “No, [he] won’t have to back off,” Reid stated confidently. “He manages it, he stays on top of all that.”