Mahomes shrugs off 'scary' injury to key K.C. win, expects to face Denver - ESPN

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — For a moment Monday night, Patrick Mahomes said he feared the worst. He had to be helped to his feet after injuring his ankle in the fourth quarter and for a few seconds wondered whether he would be able to finish the Kansas City Chiefs' game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

«Definitely scary,'' Mahomes said later. „I think it hurt more just because it's the same ankle I rolled last week, so it scared me a little bit.

“When you don't know exactly what happens and you get that sharp pain, you always fear the worst.''

Everything worked out for Mahomes, who was able to stay in the game. He later threw a touchdown pass to put the Chiefs ahead, and after the Bucs scored to send the game into overtime, Mahomes led a 10-play drive that ended with a Kareem Hunt touchdown run to give the Chiefs a 30-24 win and an 8-0 record.

Mahomes also injured his ankle in a 2022 playoff game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Then, coach Andy Reid pulled him from the game over protests from Mahomes and wouldn't allow him to return until he had gone for an X-ray.

This time, Reid again told Mahomes he was coming out of the game.

»I thought he was joking,'' Mahomes said. «I was like, 'Come on, we're not doing this again.'»

Reid went as far as telling backup quarterback Carson Wentz to get ready.

«He's a competitor,'' Reid said. „I told him I was going to take him out, and he probably wanted to fight me, so he's a tough kid.''

Reid relented after Mahomes told him the injury wasn't as serious as the one from the 2022 playoffs. Mahomes was also examined by doctors and did some mobility tests on the sideline.

Mahomes said he would be ready to play in Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium.

Mahomes was injured