Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs were dealt a scare on Sunday as the star quarterback suffered an ankle injury in a 21-7 win for the Super Bowl champions against the Cleveland Browns.
Mahomes was left limping after being hit by multiple Browns defenders mid-way through the fourth quarter, receiving help on his way off the field as Carson Wentz saw out the game at quarterback.
“I was trying to make a play happen,” said Mahomes. “As I threw the ball I got hit, and I haven’t seen it, it felt like someone hit me from behind as well, so kind of got rolled up on.
“Kind of happens in football. Try to bound back up but obviously it hurt a little bit. Now we’ll get after the rehab part of it and try to be ready for next week.
“Usually the day after is when you get a good sense of it. I feel like I could have finished the game in different circumstances. But I thought the smart decision was put Carson in. He’s played a lot of football, and he finished the game well.”
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Sunday evening that X-rays on the ankle came back negative, with Mahomes now considered week to week.
“Patrick, his right ankle has been hurt. It’s not broken, but it’s sore,” said Chiefs head coach Andy Reid. “He’ll get started on the rehab part of it as we go, and then we’ll just have to see how he does down the road here.”
Mahomes finished the game 19 of 38 for 159 yards and two touchdowns to Noah Gray and JuJu Smith-Schuster as the Chiefs improved to 13-1.
The back-to-back defending champions are scheduled to face the Houston Texans at Arrowhead next weekend before visiting the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas Day.