Mahomes has been hurt
Inconsistency has been present in Mahomes’ game this season. At times he looks just like last year’s MVP. At other times, he looks like an earthly quarterback. Most of the reason for this is due to injury. Mahomes has been banged up since the get-go and there are a number of ways that this has affected him.
Early in the season, Mahomes was taken to the ground by a Jaguars defender and his foot was wrapped up underneath him. This resulted in Mahomes’s first ankle tweak. The second came from his own player. As Mahomes set to throw, Cam Erving was pushed back and stepped on that same ankle. Then, against the Broncos, Mahomes dislocated his knee, making everyone wonder about his ability to play for the rest of the season. Ultimately, Mahomes returned and now has sustained an injury to his hand.
Needless to say, this has taken its toll on the offense. Due to these injuries, Mahomes has struggled physically. At times he has struggled setting and planting his feet for a throw. At other times, Mahomes has been less mobile. Now, this has affected him in new ways. Mahomes is now struggling to grip the ball and clearly does not trust the offensive line to keep him clean.