PAT’S STILL ON THE PATH
NO BREAK FOR BENGALS, WHO ARE IN FOR A FULL DOSE OF MAHOMES DESPITE HIS ANKLE INJURY
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Patrick Mahomes finished a full week of practice on his ailing right ankle Friday, and Chiefs coach Andy Reid pronounced his AllPro quarterback ready to go for the AFC Championship Game against the Bengals.
Mahomes sustained a high ankle sprain in the first quarter of last week’s divisionalround win over the Jaguars, returning after halftime to polish off the victory. That sent the Chiefs to their fifth straight AFC title game, where they will face the AFC North champions Sunday night in a rematch of last year’s overtime loss.
“He looks good,” Reid said of Mahomes. “I mean, he’s moving around good. He’s going to go out and play.”
Mahomes has had perhaps his best season, throwing for a career-high 5,250 yards with an NFL-leading 41 touchdown passes, and took 49 of 50 first-place votes in AllPro voting. He’s also among five finalists for league MVP.
“I feel like I can still do a lot of things,” he said this week. “We’ll see as we get closer and closer, and we’ll see during the game. [In practice], you can’t fully do exactly what you’re going to be doing in those moments in the game, but all I can do is prepare myself the best way possible, and then, when we get in the game, you hope adrenaline kind of takes over.”
Mahomes vowed to play in the title game from the moment the Chiefs beat the Jaguars, striding to the podium just outside the locker room and proclaiming that his ankle felt better than expected. He began treatment that night, and a precautionary MRI exam the next day showed no structural damage.
His right ankle wasn’t taped any more than the left when he headed onto the indoor practice field Wednesday and Thursday. On Friday, he was bouncing around as if nothing was amiss at a final outdoor workout.
“We’re preparing for Patrick Mahomes like he’s 100%,” Bengals pass rusher Sam Hubbard said, “because I’m sure he’s going to be playing 100%. That’s all you can do.”
The Chiefs have been coy about their game plan for the Bengals, who have beaten them three times in the last 13 months, including that fateful AFC title game last January. But there’s a good chance Reid and offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy tweaked the plan to protect Mahomes, who’s uncanny when it comes to extending plays with his scrambling ability.
Mahomes has dealt with plenty of injuries in recent years, and this isn’t the first to happen on the playoff stage. Two years ago, he was placed in the concussion protocol during a divisional win over the Browns, although he came back the next week to lead the Chiefs to an AFC title win over the Bills. Mahomes also was dealing with turf toe, which he said this week was the most painful injury he has played through during his time in the NFL. He wound up having surgery for it after the Chiefs lost to the Buccaneers in the Super Bowl.
“I have a lot of good people around me everywhere,” said Mahomes, who praised the Chiefs’ training staff, along with his personal trainer, Bobby Stroupe. “We’ve done a lot of ankle and knee and foot stuff, especially after the last few injuries I’ve had. I think that’s prepared me to bounce back quickly here and be able to be in a good spot.” Mahomes also has gotten support from players around the league, including Bucs quarterback Tom Brady.
“I have a good relationship with him now, and he gives me a lot of advice,” Mahomes said. “Why would you not want to learn from the GOAT? So any time anybody like that wants to give me advice, I’ll take it in, and it’s cool to see the guys that you’ve watched growing up your whole life be able to talk to you in that type of platform.”