On Wednesday, Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid gave a promising update on Patrick Mahomes’ status for their massive AFC Championship Game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.
For the fifth year in a row, the Chiefs are one step away from punching their ticket to a third Super Bowl trip in four years. However, standing in their way is the one team that’s seemingly become their kryptonite over the last two seasons, the Bengals.
The two teams competed in two matchups last season — including the 2022 AFC Championship Game — and a regular season clash earlier this year. And the Chiefs have shockingly lost all three games to Joe Burrow and the Bengals. The Chiefs’ best player and MVP candidate has to be at his best if they have any chance of winning on Sunday.
But, that was put in jeopardy last week when the superstar quarterback injured his ankle in the first half of their game against the Jacksonville Jaguars and limped his way through an eventual win. The injury was diagnosed this week as a high ankle sprain and seemed to cast some doubt on his availability for the AFC Championship Game.
However, Chiefs Kingdom received some good news today about the health of their favorite player.
Patrick Mahomes participated in Kansas City Chiefs practice Wednesday
On Wednesday afternoon, Reid informed reporters that his starting quarterback was set to practice with the team today. While the 64-year-old noted he hoped the Pro Bowler would be a full participant in practice, he still remained pessimistic by adding, “we’ll see.”
- Patrick Mahomes stats (2022-2023): 5,250 yards, 41 TDs, 12 INTs, 105.2 passer rating
If Mahomes is able to play at an elite level on Sunday it would be pretty impressive. A high ankle sprain usually means that there has been “damage to the syndesmotic ligaments that sit just above the ankle, holding the tibia and fibula together.” (via The Athletic). The injury often requires close to a month of recovery before professional athletes are able to return to action.
The Chiefs will face off with the Bengals at 6:30 p.m. ET Sunday on CBS.
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