Patrick Mahomes injury update: Chiefs QB may have tweaked nerve, playoff status still uncertain

Joe Rivera

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Patrick Mahomes injury update: Chiefs QB may have tweaked nerve, playoff status still uncertain image

The Chiefs had to finish out the divisional round without Patrick Mahomes, and they're now concerned about his status for the AFC championship game.

The KC star was hit by Mack Wilson in the third quarter, and he was slow to get back to his feet following the hit. Mahomes would need help from teammates and Kansas City personnel following the hit.

It's difficult to see where exactly Mahomes was injured, but the Chiefs would rule Mahomes out. Initial reports indicated he suffered a concussion, but CBS has since written that it was a tweaked nerve in his neck that caused him to exit.

The positive news is that it seems that Mahomes could potentially be good to go for the AFC Championship Game next week in Arrowhead Stadium. Chiefs coach Andy Reid said postgame that Mahomes is doing well and that he passed all the preliminary tests.

MORE: Explaining the NFL's concussion protocol

Mahomes will still have to pass protocol during the week in order to be eligible for championship Sunday.

Following the game, Wilson offered well wishes to Mahomes, and the quarterback answered, showing no ill will between the two players:

Initially, Mahomes was helped off the field slowly by Chiefs medical personnel, and he headed into the blue medical tent along the sideline. Soon after, Mahomes was seen jogging to the locker room.

CBS' Tracy Wolfson reports that Mahomes is currently going through concussion protocol and the team would not have an official designation until after the questioning was complete.

The Chiefs would confirm Wolfson's initial report:

Mahomes has taken a beating in the game, with an injury to his left big toe earlier in the game showing him visibly hobbled throughout the course of the game. 

Mahomes would be replaced by longtime NFL vet and backup quarterback Chad Henne, who would finish out the drive and net a field goal to extend the lead to 22-10.

 

Joe Rivera

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Joe Rivera is in his seventh year with The Sporting News, handling NFL, MLB and some things pro wrestling. A proud-ish Rutgers University graduate, Rivera combines a new-school flair with an old-school soul. He loves dingers, wrestling, comic books, movies, music and really bad puns. He is also a card-carrying BBWAA member and teaches Multimedia Sports Reporting at his alma mater.

You can find him and tweet him @JoeRiveraSN, if you're into that sort of thing.