Chiefs' Reid - 'Full confidence' in Wentz if Mahomes can't play - ESPN

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Chiefs are preparing for Patrick Mahomes to start Saturday's game against the Houston Texans but if their star quarterback's ailing ankle prevents that from happening, they believe they can be successful if backup Carson Wentz plays.

«We have full confidence in Carson,'' coach Andy Reid said. „If he has to step in and play, then I think everybody, coaches and players, has full confidence that he can go in and do a nice job. “He's started in the league and been successful. He's got a great feel for this offense. Very smart, big arm. I like the way he carries himself. I like everything about him. He should be starting in this league somewhere, so he's a heck of a player.''

Mahomes said he's pleased with the progress his injured right ankle has made since he suffered a high ankle sprain in Sunday's 21-7 win over the Cleveland Browns. He said this injury isn't as severe as a similar one he received in a 2022 divisional round playoff game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Then, he returned to the game after a short break and played in both the AFC Championship Game against the Cincinnati Bengals and the Super Bowl against the Philadelphia Eagles.

»That [injury] was pretty significant,'' Mahomes said. «But I want to be in a better spot than I was in that next game going up against the Bengals. So, I'll try to see if I can get there.

»I want to be able to move. I want to be able to get out of the way. [Houston's] is a good pass rush, a good defense. They fly around. You don't want to go out there and put yourself in harm's way. Obviously, it's football and you're going to take hits, but you want to be able to protect yourself. So that'll be where I'm at and I don't want to limit the game plan. That's