Chiefs’ Mahomes prepared for AFC title recreation towards Bengals
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes completed a full week of follow on his ailing proper ankle Friday, and Kansas Metropolis Chiefs coach Andy Reid pronounced his All-Professional quarterback able to go for the AFC championship recreation towards the Cincinnati Bengals.
Mahomes sustained a excessive ankle sprain within the first quarter of final week’s divisional-round win over Jacksonville, returning after halftime to shine off the victory. That despatched the Chiefs to their fifth consecutive AFC championship recreation, the place they may face the AFC North champions on Sunday night time in a rematch of final yr’s additional time loss to the Bengals.
“He appears good,” Reid mentioned. “I imply, he’s transferring round good. He’s going to exit and play.”
Mahomes has had maybe his finest season, throwing for a career-high 5,250 yards with a league-leading 41 landing passes, and garnered 49 of fifty first-place votes in All-Professional voting. He’s additionally amongst 5 finalists for league MVP.
“I really feel like I can nonetheless do plenty of issues,” he mentioned this week. “We’ll see as we get nearer and nearer, and we’ll see throughout the recreation. You possibly can’t totally do precisely what you’re going to be doing in these moments within the recreation (in follow), however all I can do is put together myself one of the simplest ways doable after which once we get within the recreation, you hope adrenaline form of takes over.”
Mahomes vowed to play from the second the Chiefs beat the Jaguars final Saturday night time, striding to the rostrum simply outdoors the Kansas Metropolis locker room and proclaiming his ankle felt higher than anticipated. Mahomes started therapy that night time, and a precautionary MRI examination taken the next day confirmed no structural injury.
His proper ankle wasn’t taped any greater than the left when Mahomes headed onto the indoor follow subject Wednesday and Thursday. He was bouncing round as if nothing was amiss Friday for a closing out of doors exercise.
“We’re making ready for Patrick Mahomes like he is 100%,” Bengals cross rusher Sam Hubbard mentioned, “as a result of I am positive he’ll be enjoying 100%. That is all you are able to do.”
The Chiefs have been coy about their recreation plan for Cincinnati, which has overwhelmed them 3 times within the final 13 months, together with that fateful AFC title recreation final January. However there is a good likelihood Reid and offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy tweaked it to guard Mahomes, who’s uncanny in relation to extending performs along with his scrambling capacity.
Mahomes has handled loads of accidents in recent times, and this is not the primary to occur on the playoff stage.
Two years in the past, Mahomes was positioned within the concussion protocol throughout a divisional win over the Browns, although he got here again the next week to guide Kansas Metropolis to an AFC title win over Buffalo. Mahomes additionally was coping with turf toe, which he mentioned this week was essentially the most painful damage that he is performed by means of throughout his time within the NFL.
Mahomes wound up having surgical procedure for it after the Chiefs misplaced to Tampa Bay within the Tremendous Bowl.
I’ve plenty of good folks round me all over the place,” mentioned Mahomes, who praised the Chiefs coaching employees alongside along with his private coach, Bobby Stroupe. “We’ve completed plenty of ankle and knee and foot stuff, particularly after the previous few accidents I’ve had. I believe that’s ready me to bounce again shortly right here and be capable of be in a great spot.”
Mahomes additionally has gotten assist from gamers across the league, together with Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady.
“I’ve relationship with him now and he offers me plenty of recommendation,” Mahomes mentioned. “Why would you not need to be taught from the GOAT? So anytime anyone like that desires to provide me recommendation, I’ll take it in, and it’s cool to see the blokes that you simply’ve watched rising up your entire life be capable of speak to you in that kind of platform.”
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