Patrick Mahomes practiced Tuesday regardless of coping with an obvious excessive ankle sprain.
Mahomes was listed as a full participant in a short practice week forward of a high-stakes showdown towards the Houston Texans. He exited Sunday’s recreation towards the Cleveland Browns after being injured. He mentioned he would not know if he’ll be capable of play Saturday, however he does know what he’ll need to do if he does play.
“I need to have the ability to transfer. I need to have the ability to get out of the best way,” Mahomes mentioned, including the Texans boast a harmful move rush. The Texans have the second-most sacks within the NFL this season with 45, simply 4 behind the Denver Broncos for the league lead.
“You do not need to go on the market and put your self in hurt’s method. It is soccer. You are going to take hits, however you need to have the ability to shield your self,” Mahomes mentioned.
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Cleveland Browns defensive deal with Dalvin Tomlinson (94) helps up Kansas Metropolis Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) after a deal with through the third quarter at Huntington Financial institution Area in Cleveland Dec. 15, 2024. (Scott Galvin/Imagn Photos)
If Mahomes cannot go, the Chiefs should rely upon backup Carson Wentz, a former Philadelphia Eagle. Wentz final began a recreation within the ultimate week of final season for the LA Rams, main the workforce to a 21-20 win over the San Francisco 49ers.
Mahomes will play if he will not restrict the offense.
“I do not need to restrict the sport plan,” Mahomes mentioned. “That is one other factor for me. I need to have the ability to nonetheless be capable of transfer across the pocket so we’re not simply sitting in a single spot the entire total recreation and main the D-line to get after it. So, it is about me discovering that stability and seeing the place I am at and, like I mentioned, I will not know till nearer to the tip of this week.”
The Chiefs are in a race to take care of their maintain on the highest seed within the AFC. At 13-1, they’ve the perfect document within the league and have a two-game lead over the Buffalo Payments for a first-round bye. However the Payments would maintain the tie-breaker over the Chiefs in the event that they end with the identical document as a result of Buffalo beat Kansas Metropolis, 30-21, Nov. 17.
Kansas Metropolis Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes watches play through the second half towards the Cleveland Browns Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photograph/David Richard)
So, the Chiefs want two extra wins to safe the highest spot. Their ultimate three video games towards the Texans, Steelers and Broncos will pit Mahomes and firm towards three playoff groups. The Steelers and Broncos have two of the league’s prime defenses. The Payments have a powerful probability to win their final three video games and with two towards the Patriots and one towards the Jets arising.
The sport towards the Texans is ill-timed as a result of Mahomes sustained the damage Sunday with simply six days to arrange for the Texans.
The Chiefs can even have to show round and play simply three nights after that in a Christmas Day recreation Wednesday in Pittsburgh.
Mahomes beforehand griped in regards to the scheduling in a press convention final week.
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“It’s not a great feeling,” Mahomes informed reporters. “You by no means need to play this quantity of video games on this in need of time. It’s not nice in your physique. However, on the finish of the day, it’s your job, your career. It’s important to come to work and do it.”
Mahomes was requested whether or not he has ever had three video games in such a brief span.
“I haven’t in soccer,” he replied.
“All you are able to do is give attention to the sport. The observe you have got that day,” Mahomes added. “I attempt to put together my physique all 12 months lengthy for this stretch. That’s tailoring my exercises, tailoring the way you observe and put together.
“And the coaches do an ideal job of taking good care of us on the observe area. We observe as onerous as anyone, however they know how one can dial it again when wanted.”
Kansas Metropolis Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes kisses his spouse, Brittany Mahomes, earlier than kickoff towards the Detroit Lions Sept. 7, 2023, at GEHA Area at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas Metropolis, Mo. (Tammy Ljungblad/The Kansas Metropolis Star/Tribune Information Service by way of Getty Photos)
Mahomes is dealing with damage, harmful defenses and a grueling vacation schedule, and he’ll need to play on Christmas a second straight season.
He’ll be coping with this all whereas dealing with the stress of caring for his pregnant spouse. Brittany Mahomes is reportedly in her third trimester of being pregnant, based on her coach, Kristy Rae.
“Third trimester’s my fave stage of being pregnant relating to coaching,” Rae wrote on a current Instagram video of Brittany’s exercises. “There’s research that present your physique principally goes into superhuman mode to arrange for baby delivery.”
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