NFL reporter James Palmer has word that Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ ankle injury is likely “worse than most people think it is.”
The Kansas City Chiefs are dealing with a significant number of injuries to starters on both sides of the ball, but none of them comes close to the importance of the ankle injury that continues to both starting quarterback Patrick Mahomes week after week. On Thursday, NFL reporter James Palmer has word that the injury is, unfortunately, likely “worse than most people think.”
Palmer, a reporter for NFL Network, has covered every game in which Mahomes’ has injured (or re-injured) his ankle this season: in Week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, in Week 5 against the Indianapolis Colts, and Week 6 against the Houston Texans. Initially, Mahomes rolled his ankle in the team’s season-opening win. From there, he’s hurt it again in two separate instances that have clearly affected his ability to throw.
“It is a legit injury,” said Palmer. “I’ve been told that by multiple people. Andy Reid has talked about how it is bothering Patrick Mahomes and multiple people who know about the injury told me it’s probably worse than most people think it is. Speaking with the Broncos, they’re well aware of it, but at the same time, they said, ‘We can’t think about it at all. With as talented as Patrick Mahomes is, he could probably beat you on one leg and we know the injury is not going to knock him out of the game.'”
Just last week, Mahomes put up a quick 17 points on the Houston Texans in a game that initially looked like it could be a blowout. As the game went on and Mahomes hurt his ankle once again, the Chiefs were neutered offensively. In fact, they had two three-and-outs on their final two possessions in the fourth quarter when the game was on the line. Mahomes, in those moments, looked far from the reigning MVP.
If something happens to Mahomes to remove him from the game, the Chiefs would turn to Matt Moore as their backup. The Chiefs have Chad Henne on injured reserve and he will eligible to return in a couple weeks. Moore threw a single errant pass in Week 1 when Mahomes sat for a handful of offensive snaps while his ankle was being examined and treated. Before that, his last NFL action came back in 2017 when he went 0-2 as a starter.
Mahomes and the Chiefs visit the Denver Broncos on a short week on Thursday Night Football to open Week 7 on the NFL’s calendar.