Mahomes takes snaps, has chance to play Sunday
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was on the practice field and worked with the starting offense in a limited basis Thursday but remains in concussion protocol.
Head coach Andy Reid specified Mahomes is still in the no-contact phase of concussion protocol until further notice, leaving the Chiefs’ quarterback situation unsettled for the AFC Championship game Sunday.
Typically players who haven’t been cleared from NFL concussion protocol are not allowed to wear helmets at practice. In the portion of Thursday’s workout open to media, Mahomes held his helmet and observed from the sideline.
But later in the workout Mahomes donned a helmet and ran plays with the starting offense, which included rookie running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who missed the divisional playoff game last week due to hip and ankle injuries.
“Pat looked good out there,” Reid said. “He’s moving around well. He feels good. It’s just important we follow the protocol, and that’s what we’re doing.”
If Mahomes doesn’t receive full medical clearance, Reid said the Chiefs would turn back to Chad Henne. Henne entered last week’s game in the third quarter after Mahomes was helped off the field at the end of an option running play. Henne also started Week 17 with the Chiefs resting key personnel. JAGS HIRE EX-49ERS EXEC BAALKE AS GM >> The Jacksonville Jaguars hired Trent Baalke as general manager, removing the interim tag from his title and pairing him with new coach Urban Meyer.
Baalke served as Jacksonville’s director of pro personnel in 2020, returning to a front-office role for the first time since the 49ers fired him and coach Chip Kelly following the 2016 season. Baalke spent a dozen years with the 49ers, half as GM. He hired Jim Harbaugh, who led the Niners to the NFC title game in each of his first three seasons and lost Super Bowl 47. Baalke also drafted quarterback Colin Kaepernick in the second round in 2011.
Before moving to Jacksonville, Baalke spent three years (2017-19) working as an operations consultant for the NFL.
EAGLES PLAN TO HIRE COLTS OC SIRIANNI >> The Philadelphia Eagles are nearing a deal to hire Nick Sirianni to be their head coach, according to two people familiar with the decision. Sirianni was the offensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts the past three seasons.
The 39-year-old Sirianni previously served as an assistant coach with the Chiefs and Chargers.
The Eagles fired Doug Pederson following a 4-11-1 season, less than three years after he led the team to the franchise’s only Super Bowl title.
FORMER PACKERS GM TED THOMPSON DIES >> Ted Thompson, whose 13-year run as Green Bay Packers general manager included their 2010 Super Bowl championship season, has died. He was 68. The Packers announced that Thompson died Wednesday night at his home in Atlanta, Texas.
Thompson was Packers general manager from 2005-17 and drafted many notable players on the current roster, including twotime MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers. He acquired 49 of the 53 players on the Packers’ 2010 championship team.
Thompson spent over two decades in the Packers’ front office and was the team’s director of pro personnel when the Packers won the Super Bowl for the 1996 season and captured the NFC title the following year.
RAMS TAB MORRIS AS DC >> The Los Angeles Rams hired Raheem Morris as their defensive coordinator.
The former Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach and Atlanta Falcons interim coach replaces Brandon Staley, who became the Los Angeles Chargers’ new head coach on Sunday. Morris, the team’s third defensive coordinator in three seasons.
Morris has worked on NFL sidelines since 2002, including 11 games as the Falcons’ interim coach in 2020 and three seasons coaching the Buccaneers from 200911. He went 4-7 last season after Dan Quinn was fired and compiled a 17-31 record with the Bucs, highlighted by a 10-6 season in 2010.