Patrick Mahomes was absolutely surgical on the Kansas City Chiefs’ first drive against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the divisional round. Mahomes did what he does, driving his team down the field for an easy touchdown.
But on Kansas City’s second drive of the game, a pall was cast over Arrowhead Stadium. With 2:40 left in the first quarter, Mahomes found himself pinned between two Jacksonville defenders — edge-rusher Arden Key, and defensive tackle Corey Peters. As Mahomes went to the ground, Key rolled up on Mahomes’ right ankle, and Mahomes was in obvious pain. Based on the angle of Mahomes’ right leg, his knee may have been affected as well.
Here is Mahomes’ ankle injury pic.twitter.com/D4cBu3Qq2C
— Bussin' With The Boys 🐺 (@BussinWTB) January 21, 2023
On the next play, a simple handoff to running back Jerick McKinnon, Mahomes struggled to stay upright, one-hopping his way through the play.
This is not good as Patrick Mahomes left with an injury and after returning can barely put weight on his leg. Look as this struggle to hand the ball off #NFLPlayoffs playing on one leg pic.twitter.com/Uj8Vka2Kfm
— Ace Football Analytics (@js_ace_football) January 21, 2023
The Chiefs took the lead, 10-7, on a 50-yard Harrison Butker field goal at the end of their second drive. But near the end of Jacksonville’s subsequent drive, Mahomes went into the locker room to get more medical attention, and backup Chad Henne came into the game.
Mahomes was NOT happy about it.
Mahomes is PISSED he was sent to the locker room.pic.twitter.com/vxzh2xkQ0P
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) January 21, 2023