Patrick Mahomes Injury Watch: Will he be ready to go against Bengals?
By Kristen Wong
The Cincinnati Bengals didn't come out of the early playoff rounds completely unscathed, but neither did the Kansas City Chiefs.
Cincy lost right guard Alex Cappa in Week 18 of regular season and left tackle Jonah Williams in the Wild Card game against the Baltimore Ravens, two huge dents in the offensive line.
Yet losing key members of the front five isn't nearly as catastrophic as, say, losing your starting quarterback.
Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes suffered an ankle injury in the first quarter of Kansas City's Divisional Round victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Mahomes briefly went into the locker room to take an X-ray, and after the scans came back negative, Mahomes was cleared to play in the second half.
The league MVP frontrunner ultimately helped lead the Chiefs to a playoff victory, but he was noticeably limited as he played with a heavily taped ankle.
Following the game, MRI results revealed Mahomes suffered a high ankle sprain, and the Chiefs haven't yet indicated whether Mahomes is cleared to play in the AFC Championship game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Here's an updated tracker on Mahomes' ankle injury ahead of Sunday's matchup.
Patrick Mahomes injury status tracker for Chiefs vs. Bengals
Thursday (1/26/23) afternoon
Michele Steele wrote that Mahomes looked sharp during Thursday's practice.
Patrick Mahomes throwing the football at practice, looking sharp - still taped up.
— Michele Steele (@MicheleSteele) January 26, 2023
Wednesday (1/25/23) afternoon
Patrick Mahomes officially listed as a full participant at this afternoon's practice.
Patrick Mahomes officially listed as a FULL PARTICIPANT at practice.
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) January 25, 2023
Wednesday (1/25/23) morning
Andy Reid said everyone would be practicing and that includes Mahomes. Reid noted that he thinks Mahomes would participate in everything but "we'll see".
Andy Reid starts his press conference with "no injuries to report. Everybody is going to practice today." Patrick Mahomes will practice today. Reid said he think he'll probably do everything, but "we'll see"
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) January 25, 2023
Tuesday (1/24/23) afternoon
NFL's James Palmer gives his two cents on Mahomes' injury, explaining why in spite of the mobility issues, Mahomes is better suited to play within the Chiefs' system in 2023.
#chiefs Patrick Mahomes’ mobility may be limited Sunday with his right high ankle sprain. But compared to the past, he’s more suited now to play within the system than ever before. It’s all broken down here. My report on NFL NOW on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/vzXc5KBLTB
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) January 24, 2023
Monday (1/23/23) afternoon
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid told reporters that Mahomes is "doing okay." Reid expressed confidence that Mahomes is going to play on Sunday but also said the team is taking it "day by day."
#Chiefs coach Andy Reid told reporters that QB Patrick Mahomes "worked hard on the treatment and is doing OK." Asked about his status, Reid says he's "gonna play" and that this isn't as serious as the one Mahomes suffered in 2019.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 23, 2023
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