Mahomes to practice as usual on sprained ankle
The Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes walked through Arrowhead Stadium as if nothing was amiss Wednesday, his sprained right ankle hardly hampering the All-pro quarterback as he began preparing for the AFC title game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Mahomes went through a normal morning walkthrough and then headed out for an afternoon practice with the rest of the Chiefs, four days after a Jacksonville pass rusher landed on his ankle and forced him to hobble off the field in pain.
“AFC championship week,” Mahomes said with a smile. “I’m ready to go.”
Mahomes was hurt late in the first quarter of the Chiefs’ 27-20 win over the Jaguars on Saturday. X-rays during the game came back negative, and Mahomes returned in the second half to lead the Chiefs to a spot in their fifth straight conference title game — and a Sunday night rematch with the Bengals, who beat them for a spot in last year’s Super Bowl.
Mahomes began getting treatment after the game, and an MRI on Sunday showed no structural damage.
“The last few days has been an all-day thing,” Mahomes said, “where you’re doing treatment and rehab and watching film. You’re trying to make sure you’re prepared for the Bengals, a great football team, mentally and physically.”
Mahomes jogged around without any apparent limp Wednesday in the brief portion of practice open to local reporters.
San Francisco defensive lineman Charles Omenihu will be available to play in the NFC title game despite his arrest on a misdemeanor domestic violence allegation. Coach Kyle Shanahan said Wednesday that the team will wait for the legal process to resolve after Omenihu was accused of pushing his girlfriend to the ground during an argument on Monday.
“If he’s healthy, he’ll play this week,” Shanahan said. “We’ve looked into it the last 48 hours, not necessarily myself but other people. We feel very good that the legal process will take care of itself. We don’t feel we should kick him off our team at this time.”
The NFL will review the matter under the league’s personal conduct policy, but Omenihu is available until
Omenihu available to play:
that is completed. San Jose police said they were called to Omenihu’s home on Monday afternoon to investigate a domestic violence incident.
According to the police report, a woman who said she was Omenihu’s girlfriend said he pushed her to the ground during an argument. Officers did not observe any visible physical injuries, but the woman did complain of pain in her arm. She declined medical attention.
Matchupslookingeven: It’s been 25 years since both NFL conference championship games were this evenly matched from an oddsmakers standpoint.
The San Francisco 49ers are 2½-point underdogs against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday in the NFC championship game. In the AFC title game, the Cincinnati Bengals are 1½-point favorites on the road against the Kansas City Chiefs.
The previous time both conference championship games featured spreads under 3 points was 1998. The Packers were 2½-point favorites at San Francisco in the NFC game. The Broncos were 2½-point favorites at Pittsburgh in the AFC matchup.