After spraining his right ankle in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s win over the Cleveland Browns, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is ready to play Saturday when Kansas City hosts the Houston Texans.
With a recovery period initially described as week-to-week, Mahomes was listed as a full participant in practice on Tuesday and targeted to start for the Chiefs (13-1) this weekend Had gone. Head coach Andy Reid indicated Thursday that Mahomes “likely” will play.
“That’s why you put pressure on playing this game,” Mahomes said earlier in the week. “So I’ll work in practice and try to push it to see where I get. But at the end of the day, I’m not going to put my team in a bad position. So if I feel like I can, I can play and go there.” And can win a football game, if I don’t think it’s the best situation, I’ll let Carson (Wentz) play.
“It’s about pushing it this week, seeing where I’m at and then making the best decision.”
Mahomes expressed optimism after making progress in treatment following Sunday’s win. With the AFC West title already in their hands and a two-game lead over the Buffalo Bills in the race for the top seed in the AFC, there is no pressure on the Chiefs to play for a full four quarters if Mahomes plays.
“Obviously we’ve put ourselves in a good position where I wouldn’t say it’s difficult for me to play,” Mahomes said. “We have a little wiggle room, but at the end of the day, we’re trying to win. And I’m a competitor and I want to go out there and play.
“I will push myself to get to the best place in the next few days and then we will make a decision.”
Like Kansas City, the Texans (9-5) have already clinched a playoff berth, clinching their second consecutive AFC South crown with a 20-12 home win over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.
While the Texans could boost their seeding with a strong closing kick, the possibility that they’ll hold on to fourth in the standings suddenly seems just as plausible as igniting a late-season surge.
That leaves Houston facing the annual dilemma that many teams face after clinching a spot in the postseason with a handful of games left in the regular season: the Texans’ wild-card tilt after the schedule is complete. How will one reach the last three competitions before?
“Even though we won the AFC South, it still doesn’t change our approach,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “When we line up and play, we’re still trying to improve as a football team in all areas and try to play our best ball when it comes playoff time. So, we’re just Still trying to improve, still doing our best.”
The Texans’ first game with a playoff guarantee will depend on their effort as well as Mahomes’ availability. Even considering the Chiefs’ overall excellence, Mahomes remains the ultimate game-changer, and the Texans are more likely to have success if he rests.
“I have no idea whether he’s playing or not, so I can’t really focus on it or worry about it,” Ryans said. “… A lot of the spotlight falls on Patrick, but if you watch the Chiefs play, their defense is an excellent unit.
“Coach (Andy) Reed and the offense, they’re going to find a way no matter who’s in there, they’re going to find a way to move the football. And so, we’ve just got to stay on top of it in all areas of the game, Patrick there. Is it or not.”
The Texans’ quarterback, C.J. Stroud, threw a combined three touchdown passes and had no interceptions over the past two games, but his total yardage over that span (373 combined) wasn’t great. And Joe Mixon was held to 23 yards on 12 carries against the Dolphins after topping 100 yards rushing in six of the last eight weeks.
Houston is out four players: defensive tackle Foley Fatukasi (ankle), wide receiver John Meechie III (shoulder), center Juice Scruggs (foot) and tight end Cade Stover (illness). Linebacker Dell’Shawn Phillips (foot) and backup quarterback Davis Mills (illness) went from non-participants on Tuesday to full participants on Thursday. Linebacker Christian Harris (ankle) has been added to the injury report and is questionable to play.
Tackle DJ Humphries (hamstring) and defensive back Chamarri Conner (concussion) have been ruled out. Wide receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown will make his major league debut after an injured-reserve stint due to a shoulder ailment
–Field Level Media
