The 2022 playoffs showcased Patrick Mahomes‘ ability to play through ankle injuries, as a gimpy version of the Chiefs superstar powered through a high ankle sprain to lead the team to a Super Bowl win. As the Chiefs aim to become the first team to win three straight Super Bowls, Mahomes does not appear likely to be sidelined as a result of a similar setback.
Suffering a high ankle sprain against the Browns in Week 15, Mahomes said (via The Associated Press’ Dave Skretta) this one is not as bad as the injury he sustained against the Jaguars in the 2022 divisional round. Mahomes practiced in full today, swinging the door open to a start against the Texans on Saturday.
“Jacksonville was worse. That one was pretty significant,” Mahomes said. “Obviously it’s responded better, quicker. That would be the best thing to say. But I want to be in a better spot than I was that next game going up against the Bengals.”
Since taking over for Alex Smith in 2018, Mahomes has only missed two starts due to injury. Both came in 2019. While Mahomes did miss a drive in the above-referenced Jaguars game and was down for much of the second half of a 2020 divisional-round game against the Browns (due to a concussion), he has been one of the NFL’s most durable quarterbacks. As a Chiefs team walking a tightrope (plus-70 point differential, 11th in the NFL) aims for the AFC’s No. 1 seed, Mahomes appears set to be back and have a new weapon at his disposal.
Marquise Brown‘s return from a summer shoulder injury has reached the point where it looks likely he will debut Saturday as well. Rumored to be on track for a Week 16 return, Brown logged a full practice Tuesday. The Chiefs lost Brown to an injury in his preseason debut and then lost Rashee Rice for the year. While Rice is done, Brown is set to be activated from IR soon.
Brown’s timetable has fluctuated since he went down in August. He had been on track to come back in September, but subsequent developments led to the wideout’s SC joint injury being tabbed to cost him the season. Rumblings in November, however, led to a return being back in play. The former Ravens and Cardinals receiver will likely have three games — depending on the Chiefs’ clinching scenarios for home-field advantage — to acclimate before the playoffs.
This has not been a good season for Mahomes, who is averaging a career-low 6.7 yards per attempt as the Chiefs have consistently struggled on offense. While the Chiefs are an…