Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has taken several hits in 2024, and he has been seen limping on the sidelines multiple times this season. Nevertheless, Mahomes has generally managed to be fine after each injury. In Week 15, however, he suffered yet another injury as he was seen limping from the field.
What is the latest injury update for Mahomes, and what is the fantasy football impact?
What Happened to Patrick Mahomes?
Mahomes took a big shot on a 4th-and-3 play that was incomplete to JuJu Smith-Schuster. Mahomes had been slow to get up earlier in the game and appeared to be favoring his ankle at one point. He was grabbed around the waist and then hit in his chest by a second defender, causing him to buckle to the ground.
Patrick Mahomes was hurt on this play and is no longer in the game with the Chiefs up 21-7 and five minutes remaining.pic.twitter.com/FhB9xjkyr4
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) December 15, 2024
Mahomes was seen getting both ankles retaped on the sideline, and the Chiefs listed him as questionable to return to the game. Carson Wentz entered the game with less than five minutes to play and a 14-point lead. However, it was not immediately clear if this was an enforced change or a decision by head coach Andy Reid.
Mahomes remained standing on the sideline and did not seem to be receiving extended treatment. After the game, he was seen walking out of the locker room and getting on the cart. It is believed that he was taken for an X-ray. He later returned to his locker, and Andy Reid told reporters that there was no break in the ankle. Reid added that Mahomes’s ankle is “sore.”
Reports suggested that the injury is a high-ankle sprain, which would make Mahomes week-to-week. The Chiefs play again on Saturday against the Houston Texans before facing the Pittsburgh Steelers the following Wednesday on Christmas Day.
Mahomes described himself as getting “rolled up on.” When asked whether he’ll be able to play next week, he wasn’t sure.
“It’s hard to say right now,” Mahomes told reporters. “You still [have] adrenaline rolling and usually it’s kind of the day after when you kind of get a good sense of it. I feel like I could have finished the game in different circumstances, but I thought the smart decision was to put Carson Wentz in.
“… You just do what you have to do to get back, and I think that’s the most important thing. 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.”
With the AFC’s No. 1 seed currently under their control, the Chiefs may not risk Mahomes in two short weeks. Reid described Mahomes as day-to-day, adding that Mahomes could have gone back in but there was no need. Mahomes said he probably would have fought harder to return to the game if the score was closer.
Mahomes on injury: pic.twitter.com/LOsN8v3ze0
— Vahe Gregorian (@vgregorian) December 15, 2024
It had been a mixed day for Mahomes against the Cleveland Browns in Week 15. He had 159 passing yards and two interceptions on 19 of 38 passing.
However, it was enough for the Chiefs to win easily as Jameis Winston threw three interceptions, including two that were picked off inside the end zone.
What Is the Fantasy Football Impact of Mahomes’ Injury?
Analysis by Kyle Soppe
It goes without saying that any missed time here would be majorly impactful. The Chiefs have the luxury of taking things a little easy down the stretch of this season, and that seriously questions Travis Kelce’s stock.
Should Mahomes sit, you’ll have to explore other options over Kelce. It’s not as if you can’t play him, but your waiver wire would at least deserve a look.
- 2023: Six straight scoreless games to end the regular season
- 2022: Six straight scoreless games to end the regular season
No receiver on this roster would be worth a look on this offense without Mahomes in the field.