Patrick Mahomes had the kind of scare that can change the mood of a game in a heartbeat, even in a 35-12 Chiefs win over the Jets on Sunday. In the second quarter, he took a hard shot to his throwing arm and for a moment it looked like Kansas City might be dealing with something far worse than a temporary setback.
The hit came late in the second quarter when Jets edge rusher David Bailey got Mahomes’ right arm as he released the ball, with Will McDonald IV and Darrell Jackson Jr. also getting a piece of the play. Mahomes stayed down briefly, grimaced, and then headed off slowly with his arm hanging at his side.
He did not miss a snap. Mahomes flexed his elbow on the sideline, threw a few warm-up passes, and returned to action. Chiefs assistant athletic trainer Julie Frymyer worked on his arm at halftime, and Andy Reid shifted the offense in the second half toward shorter throws.
Mahomes still put up the numbers before the scare really settled in, finishing 23 of 31 for 242 yards and two touchdowns, both coming before the hit. Afterward, sources told ESPN’s Ian Rapoport that an MRI did not show any major injury to Mahomes’ right elbow, though the Chiefs will keep an eye on pain and swelling before next Sunday’s matchup with the Atlanta Falcons.
Mahomes made it clear he was never going to sit if he could help it.
“If I’m able to play, I’m going to play,” Mahomes said, via ESPN’s Nate Taylor. “That’s part of the game.
It scares you in moments, when you get some pains in certain areas of your body. Obviously, it didn’t feel great, but I was able to kind of get it worked on a little bit, especially at halftime.”
The concern hit harder because of what happened last season, when Mahomes tore his ACL and LCL in his left knee in December. He said the memory of that injury came rushing back.
“Any time it’s elbows and knees, it’s always scary, just because you just don’t know,” Mahomes said. “Even my knee last year, after we were doing the initial test, I thought, because I could walk off the field, I was going to be good.
Then, all of a sudden, you do one test, and you’re just out [for the rest of the season]. That stuff scares you.
Once I could throw the ball, I knew it wasn’t a ligament and it was more muscles.”
Mahomes said he expects soreness, but he also sounded confident he’ll be ready for Atlanta.
“It’s definitely something that scares you more than anything,” he said. “I feel good now.
The adrenaline is pumping. I’m sure I’ll be sore tomorrow.
I didn’t even ice [my arm] when I used to pitch [in high school]. That probably wasn’t good for me.
I’ve never had any elbow issues. Hopefully we can stay away from those.”
In Other News...
Jets Offense Has A Geno Smith Problem That Keeps Getting Worse
The Jets offense has become a weekly reminder that talent alone does not fix a broken operation, and the latest frustration has centered on the uneasy fit between Geno Smith and offensive coordinator Frank Reich. Their relationship has not produced the kind of rhythm or trust the team needs, and the mismatch in expectations has shown up in the way the offense has sputtered through recent games, including a particularly rough showing against the Chiefs.
For a team trying to find any kind of stability, the concern is not just the production on the field but the sense that both sides may already be thinking beyond the present. Smith and Reich are each being judged on what happens now, yet the bigger question hanging over the Jets is whether either one is fully invested in fixing this partnership before the season slips further away. [Read more 🡒]
Garrett Wilson Just Sent A Clear Message About The Jets Future
Garrett Wilson spent the run-up to the NFL trade deadline at the center of plenty of chatter, with some 49ers fans openly hoping San Francisco might pry the Jets wide receiver loose. Instead, Wilson stayed put, and the deadline passed without New York moving one of its most important young pieces. The 49ers went in a different direction, adding veteran receiver Keenan Allen from the Indianapolis Colts.
For the Jets, keeping Wilson was about more than just avoiding a splashy trade. He remains a foundational player in what the organization hopes will be its next phase, especially as the team looks to stabilize the offense and build around a new quarterback plan. In a season full of uncertainty, retaining a receiver of Wilsons caliber sends a clear signal about where the franchise wants to go next. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Hold A Draft Debate That Could Define Darren Mougey
The Jets are already being pushed into a 2027 draft conversation that could end up shaping Darren Mougeys first major roster-building imprint. With three first-round picks in hand, the team has room to attack both sides of the ball, and the early read is that New York will use that flexibility to keep rebuilding a defense that has been thinned by recent roster changes while also keeping an eye on the long-term quarterback picture.
The names in the discussion tell the story of where the franchise wants to go, with defensive prospects Leonard Moore, Chris Cole, Clev Lubin and Tavion Gadson all drawing attention as possible foundation pieces. The bigger question is how aggressively the Jets will chase a new franchise passer, and whether the front office sees enough in the current college crop to make that the defining move of the class. [Read more 🡒]