Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was knocked out in the playoff game against the Cleveland Browns when he was uncomfortably tackled and apparently suffering from symptoms on the field.
The Chiefs were able to beat the Browns with some heroics from veteran rugby quarterback Chad Henne, but as the Chiefs focus their attention on the Buffalo Bills, who will host them in the AFC Championship, one question now stands above all others : will Patrick Mahomes be ready to play?
An early report by Jay Glazer of FOX provides a reason for optimism.
“Right now he’s in the concussion protocol,” Glazer told FOX Sunday night. ‘You see him struggling to get up [and] walk there, it’s more because they say it was almost like he was suffocated, of which I know a thing or two. Not so much a concussion, but he still has to go through the concussion protocol. However, he has tried to get himself back in this game, so there is a lot of confidence that he will be able to go next week. ‘
This is universal good news for Mahomes and the Chiefs. If Mahomes had not suffered a concussion or other serious head or neck injury, it appears that all signs would point to a quick return, in time for the Chiefs’ third consecutive AFC championship.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid spared details after the game, but also gave an optimistic tone about Mahomes’ immediate future.
“He’s actually doing pretty well,” Reid said. “I just talked to him and he’s doing well. We’ll see how he goes tomorrow, but at the moment he’s doing well.”
Read more: Key of confidence in Chiefs’ victory over the Browns in the first round