Patrick Mahomes gave the Chiefs a scare on Sunday afternoon, but the quarterback wound up back on the field after a brutal hit from Jets pass rusher David Bailey.
Kansas City was hosting the lowly New York Jets when Mahomes went down with what looked like an arm injury. The play ended with a fumble, and the Jets recovered it, but the bigger issue was the condition of Mahomes after the hit.
Moments later, Nate Taylor of ESPN reported on X, formerly Twitter, that “After taking a strip sack on his throwing arm, Patrick Mahomes attempted several throws on the Chiefs' sideline. He's appeared to have discomfort after his follow through. He still has his helmet while talking to trainers.”
For a brief stretch, it looked like the Chiefs might be dealing with something far more serious. Mahomes left the game after the turnover, and the concern around him was immediate.
But the discomfort evidently wasn’t severe enough to keep him out for long. Mahomes returned for the next Chiefs offensive drive, avoiding what could have been a major injury after taking such a hard shot.
That was the last thing Kansas City needed. Mahomes is back this season after tearing his ACL toward the end of last year, and the Chiefs have already dealt with injuries elsewhere on the roster. When he jogged back out, it had to feel like a massive sigh of relief inside Arrowhead Stadium.
After the Jets game, the Chiefs are scheduled to play next Sunday on the road against the Atlanta Falcons.
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