Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes participated in practice on Wednesday, despite dealing with a sore left ankle after tweaking it during the team’s victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Mahomes injured his ankle while throwing a touchdown pass to Samaje Perine in the second half of the game on Monday night.
The injury occurred when Mahomes, rolling out to his right and considering running for a first down, threw a pass to Perine in the end zone. As Mahomes planted his foot on the wet turf at Arrowhead Stadium, his ankle caught, causing a sharp pain. He briefly lay on the sideline before walking without assistance back to the Chiefs’ sideline. Mahomes continued playing and helped secure the Chiefs’ 30-24 overtime victory over Tampa Bay.
“I’m able to move around and looking forward to getting out in practice and seeing how I can push it as the week goes on,” Mahomes said Wednesday. “It’s a little sore, but overall, it’s doing good.”
The quarterback has a history with ankle injuries, the most notable being during the playoffs two seasons ago when he played through pain in the Super Bowl. Despite the discomfort, Mahomes helped the Chiefs win the title.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid expressed confidence in Mahomes’ ability to manage the injury. “He manages it. He stays on top of it,” Reid said, confirming Mahomes would not have to limit his participation in practice this week.
Mahomes’ recovery started immediately following the Monday night game. He spent Tuesday at the facility, reviewing game footage and undergoing treatment. On Wednesday, he was ready to practice for the upcoming game against the Denver Broncos, despite the short week.
“You come in early in the morning, get treatment, watch film, and prepare yourself for a short week,” Mahomes explained about his recovery process.
In other injury news, wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster remains sidelined with a hamstring injury that has kept him out for most of the past three games. Defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton is also unavailable due to a bruised knee.
The Chiefs are also hopeful that defensive end Charles Omenihu and running back Isiah Pacheco will return soon. Omenihu, who had surgery for an ACL tear in February, has been on the physically unable-to-perform list all season. Pacheco, who has been out since Week 2 with a fractured fibula, is currently on injured reserve following surgery.
Despite the numerous injuries, the Chiefs have managed to remain competitive, making strategic moves in the front office. Kansas City acquired pass rusher Joshua Uche from the New England Patriots just before the trade deadline, and Uche made his debut against the Buccaneers, contributing to the Chiefs’ defensive efforts.
In addition, the Chiefs signed running back Kareem Hunt after Pacheco’s injury. Hunt has impressed with consistent performances, logging at least 21 carries in each of the past four games and scoring in every contest. He also had a key two-yard touchdown in overtime against the Bucs.
The Chiefs also bolstered their receiving corps by trading for three-time All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins from the Tennessee Titans. Hopkins played a limited role in his debut but had a standout performance against the Buccaneers, catching eight passes for 86 yards and two touchdowns.
“We move him around and let him do what he’s special at, and that’s catching the football and winning those one-on-one matchups,” Mahomes said, commenting on Hopkins’ impact on the offense.
