A little more than weeks ago, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes dislocated his right knee cap while attempting a QB sneak in the first half of Kansas City's Thursday-night win over Denver. The injury appeared severe enough that observers wondered whether the reigning NFL MVP would be able to return this season at all.
Yet, six days later, Mahomes was a participant in practice as the Chiefs prepared to play the Packers in Week 8.
Mahomes was ruled out for Kansas City's game against Green Bay. But the day prior, in an absurd development given what had appeared to be a serious injury just a week prior, there was legitimate speculation on whether Mahomes would play against the Packers. There was similar speculation ahead of the Chiefs' Week 9 game against the Vikings before Mahomes eventually was ruled out.
Kansas City plays at Tennessee in Week 10. When asked Wednesday whether Mahomes would play against the Titans, coach Andy Reid told reporters, "We won't put him out there unless it's safe to do so."
So how did the Mahomes injury go from a potential season-ending ailment to a minor tweak with which he'll likely miss just a few games? Below are all the details.
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How long will Patrick Mahomes be out?
A few days after Mahomes suffered the dislocated knee, NFL Media reported he avoided major surgery and was expected to miss 3-5 weeks, with his return to the Chiefs possibly coming in Week 11 against the Chargers or in Week 13 (after Kansas City's bye) against the Raiders. So much for that.
Mahomes' participation in practice a week after the injury suggests he would have been able to play against the Packers or the Vikings had the Chiefs forced the issue. Kansas City plays at Tennessee in Week 10, and logic suggests he has a chance to return against the Titans.
"We won’t put him out there unless it’s safe to do so," Reid told reporters Wednesday ahead of the Tennessee game.
"It's surprising," said Chiefs guard and medical school alumnus Laurent Duvernay-Tardif of Mahomes' recovery (via ESPN). "But those injuries can go either way. When there's no (ligament) damage and it's been put back in right after it happened and he's feeling good about it. ... He's a tough guy. He wants to get back out there and he knows we need him, so he's going to do everything he can.
"At the end of the day, if it's safe for him to be out there, I'm sure he'll be out there."
What is Patrick Mahomes' injury?
Mahomes suffered a dislocated right knee cap in Week 7 against the Broncos. An MRI later revealed there was no "significant additional damage" beyond the dislocated knee, according to NFL Media.
This was considered the best-case scenario, as any damage to the ligaments in Mahomes' knee could have meant season-ending surgery.
Patrick Mahomes injury timeline
On Oct. 17, with the Chiefs up 10-6 over the Broncos on a Thursday night with 10 minutes left in the first half, a fourth-and-1 at Denver's 5-yard line gave Kansas City an ideal chance to run a QB sneak. Mahomes took the snap, forced his body through a hole to the left of the center and picked up the first down. But his leg went limp, and he immediately removed his helmet in clear discomfort.
Mahomes' right knee cap had been dislocated in what Chiefs coach And Reid called a "freak" injury. It apparently looked as ugly as it sounds.
"His knee didn't even look like a knee," tight end Travis Kelce told reporters after the game. "It was all out of whack. I couldn't even describe it."
Added Duvernay-Tardif: "Everybody could have known something was wrong. (Mahomes) was saying, 'It's out, it's out.' Nobody really understood what he meant at that time and then we saw it. ... That's when we started panicking. Not panicking but seeing that he was not all right."
A member of Kansas City's medical staff popped Mahomes' knee cap back in place on the spot. He was able to walk off the field on his own power, immediately heading to the X-ray room at Mile High in Denver and eventually returning to his team's locker room.
After the game, Mahomes tweeted, "Everything looking good so far!" The team announced he would undergo an MRI the next morning to further evaluate the injury.
Awesome team win! Love my brothers! Thank you for all the prayers! Everything looking good so far! #GodisGood #ChiefsKingdom
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) October 18, 2019
On Oct. 18, NFL Media reported Mahomes' MRI revealed no "significant additional damage" beyond the dislocated knee. This was considered the best-case scenario, and his return was expected after "a brief absence."
On Sunday, Oct. 20, a more specific timeline for Mahomes' return was reported. According to NFL Media, the Chiefs QB was expected to miss 3-5 weeks, though Reid did not confirm the report.
“I just know what I know, and that’s that the kid had the MRI, and we don’t have all the information,” the coach said. “That’s what I can give you. I’m trying to tell you what’s real. Once we get the information, we’ll give you everything that happened and what’s going on down the road."
On Monday, Oct. 21, Reid again refused to place a timeline on Mahomes' return when pressed by reporters: "I think you just go off how he feels, and what the doctors say. I know people want a time. I don’t think you can do that with this injury. ... When you’ve been around him enough, you know that nothing is impossible with this kid — he goes 100 miles an hour, and it’s important that he listens to the doctors and the trainers and that he works hard at the same time and gets himself ready to go."
Reid was right about nothing being impossible, because two days later, Mahomes participated in practice.
According to ESPN, Mahomes on the Wednesday prior to the Green Bay game "stretched and jogged with his teammates and then went with the quarterbacks to make a few throws — including one after dropping back, which looked mechanical." Mahomes eventually was ruled out for the Packers game.
"He just wasn't ready right now," Reid said, via ESPN. "That was our decision, not his. He wanted to play right after it happened. He just needs a little bit of time here.''
Mahomes missed his second game when the Chiefs beat the Vikings in Week 9, setting up a potential return against the Titans in Week 10. When asked Wednesday about the QB's status, Reid told reporters, “We won’t put him out there unless it’s safe to do so."
Patrick Mahomes injury updates
— Nov. 2: Mahomes is "on the cusp of returning," according to NFL Media, but he is likely to sit against the Vikings. (Mahomes later is ruled out.)
— Oct. 27: NFL Media reports Mahomes "has an outside chance" to play Week 9 against the Vikings and "a very realistic shot" to be on the field in Week 10 against the Titans.
— Oct. 25: The Chiefs rule Mahomes out for Sunday night's game against the Packers. Reid says Mahomes is "close" to being able to play.
— Oct. 23: Mahomes participates in practice as the Chiefs prepare to play against the Packers. "We're just going to see how he does and evaluate him from there,'' Reid says before practice.
— Oct. 22: Reid refuses to put a timeline on Mahomes' return despite a "best-case" diagnosis on his knee injury and a surprisingly quick recovery. "I think you just go off how he feels, and what the doctors say," Reid says. "I know people want a time. I don’t think you can do that with this injury.'"
— Oct. 20: NFL Media reports Mahomes is expected to miss 3-5 weeks, with the Chiefs expecting his return in Week 11 against the Chargers or in Week 13 (after the team's bye week) against the Raiders.
— Oct. 18: An MRI on Mahomes' knee confirms a dislocated knee cap but no significant additional damage, according to NFL Media. Mahomes is expected back after "a brief absence."