League’s biggest star joins list of injured quarterbacks

DENVER — With Patrick Mahomes sidelined, fans across the NFL may be longing for the days when the backup quarterback’s job was to carry a clipboard and not the hopes and dreams of an entire franchise.

Mahomes escaped significant ligament damage when he dislocated his right kneecap Thursday night in Kansas City’s 30-6 pummeling of the Denver Broncos and there is optimism the reigning NFL MVP could be back on the field in about a month.

Mahomes had an MRI exam Friday that showed the ligaments were intact, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team was still sorting through the results and putting together a timetable for his return.

“He’s a huge part of this team, huge part of the league. You just hate to see that,” said journeyman Matt Moore, the latest No. 2 thrust into a leading role in this “Year of the Backup Quarterback.”

Starting with Andrew Luck, who retired at age 29 after dealing with a series of injuries, the league’s celebration of its 100th season has been marred by the loss of some of its biggest stars.

The club of QBs sidelined so far includes Drew Brees (thumb), Ben Roethlisberger (elbow), Cam Newton (foot), Nick Foles (collarbone), Josh Allen (concussion), Mitchell Trubisky (shoulder) and Sam Darnold (mononucleosis), whose backup, Trevor Siemian was lost for the season with a gruesome ankle injury.

Now, the league’s brightest young star is hurt, too.

Shortly after becoming the fastest player in NFL history to throw for 7,500 yards, in just his 25th game, Mahomes got hurt not on one of his improvisational masterpieces but on the most basic play, a quarterback sneak.

The stadium grew silent as one by one players peeled off the pile and Mahomes stayed down, his right leg stuck at an awkward angle before he rolled onto his back, ripped off his helmet and covered his face.

“I don’t even want to think about that,” receiver Tyreek Hill said. “We are just trying to move on from it, and I will continue to pray for my dog.”

“It was out of whack,” tight end Travis Kelce said. “I couldn’t even describe it. You looked at it and were like, ‘On no, there is something wrong with him.’”

Denver defensive end Shelby Harris’ heart sank.

“I’ve never seen anything like that on the field before,” Harris said. “His knee was literally all the way to the side, his kneecap was. I wish him the best. We definitely need him in the league, he’s definitely a big attraction in the league.”