Ex-NFL star suggests Chiefs bench Patrick Mahomes for playoffs after ankle injury

James Jones explains why the Kansas City Chiefs should rest Patrick Mahomes against the Houston Texans and suit him up for the Pittsburgh Steelers assuming he is healthy enough.

Patrick Mahomes’ ankle injury came at an inopportune time for the Kansas City Chiefs, as they start down the home stretch of the 2024 season toward the playoffs.

Mahomes suffered the injury against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, days after he complained about having to go through three games in an 11-day stretch. NFL Network reported that he suffered a mild high-ankle sprain.

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Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr., #51, and linebacker Devin Bush, #30, rush Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, #15, during the second half at Huntington Bank Field on Dec 15, 2024 in Cleveland. (Ken Blaze-Imagn Images)

Matt Ryan, a former NFL MVP who led the Atlanta Falcons to a Super Bowl appearance, said Monday the Chiefs should rest Mahomes until the playoffs.

"If it was me, I would sit him. I think it's most important to have him healthy for the playoff stretch, and ankles are tough," he said on "CBS Sports HQ." "I know he's done it in the playoffs before, kind of played through that and played really well with it, but those are playoff games. 

"I look at this regular season, they've got a two-game lead in the AFC, they've got these two games back-to-back. Maybe you can get him back for Week 18 to get a little rhythm heading into the playoffs, but we'll see what the extent of what the injury is and how he heals on it the next couple of days. 

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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, #15, walks to the