After spraining his right upper ankle in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s win over the Cleveland Browns, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes appears set to play Saturday when Kansas City hosts the Houston Texans.
Mahomes, facing a recovery process described as week by week, was included in the list of players who will participate fully in the tests on Tuesday and it is intended that they start against the Chiefs (13-1) this weekend. Coach Andy Reid indicated Thursday that Mahomes is “likely” to play.
“That’s why you play this game is to push to play,” Mahomes said earlier in the week. “So I’m going to get a job and practice and try to push it to see where I get. But ultimately, I’m not going to put our team in a bad spot. So if I feel like I can play and go out there and win a football game, I’m going to play. If I don’t feel like that’s the best situation , I’m going to let Carson (Wentz) play.
“It’s about pushing this week, seeing where I’m at and making the best decision.”
Mahomes expressed optimism after improving with treatment following Sunday’s win. With the AFC West title already in the division and a two-game lead over the Buffalo Bills in the race to be the best player in the AFC, the Chiefs are under no pressure to push Mahomes all four quarters if he plays.
“Obviously we put ourselves in a good position where I can’t say it’s bad that I’m playing,” said Mahomes. “We have a little bit of room to go, but at the end of the day, we’re trying to win. And I’m a competitor and I want to go out and play.
“I’m going to push myself to get to the best possible place in the next few days and then we’ll make a decision.”
Like Kansas City, the Texans (9-5) have already won the championship, securing their second straight AFC South crown with a 20-12 home victory over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.
While the Texans may have boosted their seed with a strong shutout kick, the odds of them sitting in fourth place in the standings seem to sound like a fluke, last season.
That leaves Houston facing the annual problem that many teams face after locking up a postseason berth with a handful of games remaining in the regular season: How will the Texans get to the final three contests before the wild card tilt once the schedule is complete. ?
“Even though we won the AFC South, we haven’t changed our approach,” said Texans coach DeMeco Ryans. “When we line up and play, we’re still trying to improve as a football team in every area and try to play our best football when it comes time for the playoffs. So, we’re trying to improve, we’re doing everything we can.”
The Texans’ guaranteed first playoff appearance will depend as much on Mahomes’ availability as their effort. Even considering the Chiefs’ overall performance, Mahomes is still the one who has changed, and the Texans have more chances of success if he rests.
“I don’t know if he’s playing or not, so I can’t focus on it or worry about it,” Ryans said. “… The light shines a lot on Patrick, but when you watch the Chiefs play, their defense is an outstanding unit.
“Coach (Andy) Reid and the offense, they’re going to find a way no matter who’s there, they’re going to find a way to move the ball. It’s a game whether Patrick is there or not.”
Texans quarterback CJ Stroud has thrown three combined touchdown passes and no interceptions over the past two games, but his total yards over that span (373 combined) haven’t been great. And Joe Mixon was held to 23 yards on 12 carries against the Dolphins after passing for 100 yards in six of the previous eight weeks.
Houston is out four players: defensive end Foley Fatukasi (ankle), wide receiver John Metchie III (shoulder), center Juice Scruggs (foot) and Cade Stover (illness). Linebacker Del’Shawn Phillips (foot) and backup quarterback Davis Mills (illness) moved from non-participants on Tuesday to full participants on Thursday. Linebacker Christian Harris (ankle) found his way onto the injury report and is questionable.
Tackle DJ Humphries (hamstring) and defensive back Chamarri Conner (concussion) were ruled out. Marquise “Hollywood” Brown will play for the Chiefs for the first time after suffering a shoulder injury.
–Field Level Media
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