Patrick Mahomes appears to have come through the Chiefs’ Week 9 scare in much better shape than it first looked.
During Kansas City’s win over the New York Jets, Mahomes took a hard shot to his right arm on a sack from rookie edge rusher David Bailey. The play had all the makings of a serious injury, and even though Mahomes returned to the game, there was still real concern afterward.
That picture got a lot clearer on Wednesday. Andy Reid told reporters, including Charles Goldman from A to Z Sports, that Mahomes is expected to be a full participant in practice, a strong sign the injury is not considered a major issue.
“Chiefs HC Andy Reid anticipates full participation from QB Patrick Mahomes (elbow). Says he’s throwing the ball well,” Goldman reports.
For Kansas City, that’s the kind of update that changes the mood fast. What looked like a potentially ugly injury situation now seems to have settled into something far less alarming.
Reid’s comments line up with the early optimism that followed the initial tests, but hearing that Mahomes is throwing well and should be fully involved at practice on Wednesday makes the outlook even better for Week 10.
The Chiefs are set to face the Atlanta Falcons, and Mahomes may not need to carry a huge passing load in that one, given how well Kenneth Walker III and Emmett Johnson have been running the ball this season.
Still, the biggest takeaway is simple: Mahomes is trending toward being available, and that’s a massive relief after the way the Jets game unfolded.
With Josh Downs joining the squad after a trade deadline move, Mahomes and the Chiefs offense look to be in strong shape heading into the second half of the regular season.
In Other News...
Chiefs Suddenly Face A Backfield Question Before Falcons Matchup
A late-week injury note has added a little uncertainty to Kansas Citys backfield ahead of its matchup with Atlanta. Kenneth Walker was held out of practice Friday because of a tight groin and is now listed as questionable, giving the Chiefs one more thing to monitor as they prepare for a game that comes with plenty of attention for a team sitting at 6-2.
Andy Reid offered updates on Walkers condition as the Chiefs worked through their final prep, and the timing matters with the roster already seeing movement elsewhere. Kansas City recently added wide receiver Josh Downs from the Indianapolis Colts, so the offense is adjusting on multiple fronts while trying to keep its momentum intact against the Falcons. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Suddenly Have A Familiar Late-Season Receiver Question
Marquise Brown is suddenly back on the market, with the Philadelphia Eagles reportedly waiving the veteran receiver after just four appearances this season. Brown signed a one-year deal with Philadelphia in March after spending the previous two seasons with the Chiefs, so his availability immediately brings a familiar name back into the conversation for Kansas City at a time when receiver depth always draws extra attention.
If Brown is claimed off waivers, he will finish the season elsewhere, which leaves the Chiefs to watch a situation that feels a little too familiar for this time of year. Even without any certainty about where he lands, his exit from Philadelphia reopens a late-season question Kansas City knows well: whether a former contributor might become part of the picture again when the stretch run gets tight. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Get A Familiar Sunday Broadcast For Rare Falcons Trip
The Chiefs rare trip to Atlanta comes with a familiar Sunday afternoon feel, at least for viewers back home. Kansas City will face the Falcons at noon at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and the game will air locally on KCTV (Ch. 5) with CBS Sports top broadcast team on the call.
For a team that has spent much of the season in the national spotlight, the broadcast assignment is another reminder of how closely every Chiefs game is being watched. The Week 10 slate also comes with a full set of NFL broadcast pairings, but this one stands out because of the matchup itself, with Kansas City heading to a building it does not visit often and trying to handle business on the road in a spot that has not been kind to the franchise in years. [Read more 🡒]