Patrick Mahomes gets ‘majority’ of starter reps in Chiefs practice
By Matt Conner
The Kansas City Chiefs are getting closer to Sunday’s matchup against the Buffalo Bills. Fortunately they’re also closer to getting clarity about Patrick Mahomes‘ availability to play with news that the quarterback took the “majority” of starter’s reps for the Chiefs in practice on Thursday, per head coach Andy Reid.
Reid said Mahomes "took the majority" of the starter reps at Chiefs practice.
— Lindsay Jones (@bylindsayhjones) January 21, 2021
Reading into that, it's a sign Mahomes is nearly through the the final stages of the concussion protocol, though Reid won't confirm exactly the progress.
Andy Reid said Mahomes took the majority of the starter's snaps in practice. The Chiefs wouldn't be using all of this practice time on a QB who they didn't think was going to play
— Adam Teicher (@adamteicher) January 21, 2021
All along, the Chiefs made it clear that this week would be a tense one as the team watched Mahomes’ health through a day-by-day lens. Given that Mahomes has been dealing with a foot injury as well as a potential concussion, it makes sense that only time would tell whether or not the former MVP would be able to start for the Chiefs on Sunday. Cautious optimism has been the posture for the Chiefs all week, and that will likely continue into the weekend.
The Chiefs will submit a final injury report on Friday and give him a game-time designation, but of course, all eyes will be on Mahomes and the Chiefs until both teams take the field on Sunday evening for the AFC Championship game.
If Mahomes is unable to go, then Chad Henne will be under center and he’s been receiving reps in practice when Mahomes is not taking them. He was also receiving the starter’s reps leading into the final game of the season in Week 17 against the Los Angeles Chargers and he also played just over a quarter against the Cleveland Browns in the Divisional Round last Sunday. Suffice it to say that Henne is not rusty as the backup quarterback.
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