Mahomes Set to Play Against Broncos Despite Ankle Soreness

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes participated in Wednesday's practice as planned and is preparing for Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos, despite dealing with soreness in his left ankle. The injury occurred during the Chiefs' victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night, after Mahomes' ankle got caught in the turf while making a touchdown pass.

During the second half of the game, Mahomes was rolling out to his right while contemplating a run for a first down. He quickly noticed Samaje Perine open in the end zone and threw a touchdown pass, but his left ankle twisted awkwardly on the slippery Arrowhead Stadium field. The injury caused sharp pain, and Mahomes briefly remained on the sideline, though he was able to continue playing without missing a snap. He later contributed to another touchdown in regulation and led the Chiefs to a 30-24 win in overtime.

On Wednesday, Mahomes gave an update on his ankle, saying, “It's doing good. Obviously went on a little bit of a roll. It's a little sore. But I'm able to move around and looking forward to getting out in practice and seeing how I can push it as the week goes on.”

Mahomes has a history of playing through ankle injuries, with a notable instance during the playoffs two years ago. Despite an injury in the first half of the Super Bowl, he returned to lead the Chiefs to victory. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid indicated that Mahomes would not need to limit his practice participation this week, stating, “He manages it. He stays on top of it.”

The quarterback's recovery process began immediately after the game against Tampa Bay, with Mahomes returning to the practice facility early Tuesday to watch film and receive treatment. He also utilized treatments overnight to reduce swelling before returning to practice on Wednesday.

In addition to Mahomes' injury update, Reid confirmed that wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, who has been sidelined with a hamstring injury, will not practice this week. Defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton is also unavailable due to a bruised knee. Meanwhile, there were no updates on defensive end Charles Omenihu and running back Isiah Pacheco, both of whom are expected to return later this season.

Despite these injuries, the Chiefs have managed to remain competitive, making strategic moves to reinforce their roster. The team traded for New England Patriots defensive end Joshua Uche before the deadline, and he contributed in Monday's win as a pass-rushing specialist. Additionally, Kansas City signed former star running back Kareem Hunt after Pacheco's injury, and Hunt has been a consistent contributor, recording at least 21 carries and scoring touchdowns in the last four games.

One of the most significant moves for the Chiefs this season was their trade for wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins from Tennessee. Despite joining the team late, Hopkins made an immediate impact, catching eight passes for 86 yards and two touchdowns in the win over the Buccaneers.

As Mahomes prepares for this weekend's game against the Broncos, he remains focused on getting the Chiefs back to full strength and continuing to lead the offense with his performance. “You just continue to get him more and more comfortable in the offense,” Mahomes said, speaking about Hopkins. “We move him around and let him do what he's special at, and that's catching the football and winning those one-on-one matchups.”