Like many other players still active and playing at this point in the NFL season, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is playing through a lot of pain. After suffering a turf toe injury three weeks ago early in the team’s win over the Cleveland Browns, the injury has persisted for Mahomes since then—through the team’s win over the Buffalo Bills in the Divisional Round and now in the days preceding Super Bowl LV.
According to NFL reporter Ian Rapoport, Mahomes is planning to visit a foot specialist and consider offseason surgery to repair the toe injury. Apparently rest alone won’t take care of things, per Rapoport.
The Chiefs take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a matter of hours in Super Bowl LV. After those 60 minutes are over on the field, the season will be over one way or another, and at that point, several players will be doing the same—seeking medical expertise to figure out how to recuperate from the injuries that accrue over the course of a long and arduous season.
Mahomes first suffered the toe injury back in the Wild Card round, during the first quarter against the Browns, and the impact were quite clear. While Mahomes still put up a very good performance overall while he remained in the game, he was wincing on throws to his left and it clearly altered his ability to step into his throws. Unfortunately, he would also suffer a head injury in the third quarter that would place him in the league’s concussion protocol and remove him from the game. Chad Henne would finish out the win.
Mahomes returned the following week against Buffalo and did what he does best: put up terrific offensive numbers. The Chiefs had no problems moving the chains against the Bills and now the Chiefs are the verge of defending their Super Bowl title from last season. It will be interesting to see if the toe injury becomes a factor in the game against the Bucs, but based on his last performance and two weeks of rest, it likely won’t limit him—at least from an outside perspective.