Patrick Mahomes injury: Updates, return date, what to know about ...

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Patrick Mahomes has helped guide the Kansas City Chiefs to an NFL-best 13-1 record to start the 2024 season and has them tracking to emerge as the AFC's No. 1 seed.

However, the star quarterback is now facing questions about his health as he looks to guide Kansas City to an unprecedented three-peat.

Mahomes suffered an ankle injury late in the Chiefs' 21-7 win over the Cleveland Browns. He didn't return to action in the 14-point victory, which sparked questions about whether he would have to miss time as Kansas City navigates a grueling schedule that features three games in 11 days.

Here's everything to know about Mahomes' injuries, including the latest updates on how long he might be sidelined.

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What happened to Patrick Mahomes?

Mahomes suffered an ankle injury late in the fourth quarter of the Chiefs' win over the Browns. He tried to move around the pocket while attempting a pass on a fourth-and-3, but his protection collapsed in on him.

Mahomes was forced to throw a jump pass as a result of the pressure. He was tackled by Dalvin Tomlinson while doing so, and the 325-pound defensive tackle rolled up on him while bringing him down.

At the same time, Mahomes was hit from the front by defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. He bent back awkwardly as a result of the dual contact.

Mahomes was able to get up eventually but slowly hobbled to the sideline. He had his right ankle heavily taped on the bench and was ruled "questionable" to return. Backup quarterback Carson Wentz played the final five minutes of the game in his stead.

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Patrick Mahomes injury updates

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that Mahomes is feared to have suffered a high-ankle sprain. X-rays on the quarterback's injury were negative, but such an injury would leave the Chiefs star with a "week-to-week" designation.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid was a bit more optimistic in his prognosis for Mahomes. Reid classified his quarterback as "day-to-day" and said that Mahomes "probably could've gone back in" had the Chiefs not been leading.

"He wanted to go back in," Reid said. "There was no need for that."

That said, Reid acknowledged that the team would have to wait and see how Mahomes responds to treatment on his injured right ankle before making a decision about his short- or long-term availability.

"It's not broken, but it's sore," Reid told reporters of Mahomes' ankle. "He'll get started on the rehab part of it as we go, and then we'll just have to see how he does."

Mahomes echoed a similar sentiment, saying "it's hard to say right now" when asked how he was feeling.

"You still [have the] adrenaline rolling and usually it's kind of the day after when you kind of get a good sense of it," Mahomes told reporters. "I feel like I could have finished the game in different circumstances, but I thought the smart decision we talked about was to put Carson Wentz in. He's played a lot of football and he finished the game well."

Still, Mahomes said he would "get after the rehab" in his recovery and that he would "try to be ready for next week."

"You know what you have to do to get back, and I think that's the most important thing," Mahomes said. "And now we just get back to the rehab part, the treatment part, and try to get ourselves ready on a short week against a good football team."

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How long is Patrick Mahomes out?

It isn't yet clear how long Mahomes will be out as a result of his injury. The Chiefs are navigating a stretch of three games in 11 days and with Kansas City sporting a two-game lead over the Buffalo Bills for the No. 1 seed in the AFC, it figures to approach Mahomes' availability with caution.

Reid's "day-to-day" designation means that Mahomes' status should be monitored ahead of the team's Week 16 Saturday game against the Houston Texans. However, if Rapoport's "week-to-week" diagnosis is more accurate, Mahomes will likely miss that contest; NFL players typically miss at least one game if given a "week-to-week" designation.

Still, not much is known about Mahomes' status beyond those vague timetables. The Chiefs will likely provide a more concrete update on his status in the coming days.