Patrick Mahomes “definitely wasn’t feeling well” in the Kansas City Chiefs’ AFC Championship Game win, but his performance added to “an already great legacy,” according to general manager Brett Veach.
Superstar quarterback Mahomes suffered a high ankle sprain in a divisional round win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
That type of injury typically resulted in a spell on the sideline, but Mahomes was determined not to miss Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals, who had won at Arrowhead Stadium last year to reach the Super Bowl.
While clearly limping in the second half, Mahomes fought back to finish with 29-of-43 passing for 326 yards and two touchdowns in a 23-20 Chiefs success.
Notably, a painful five-yard run in the closing seconds of the game was followed by a drive by Joseph Ossai that resulted in a 15-yard penalty to put Harrison Butker within field goal range to snatch the victory.
Mahomes’ fellow bosses were in awe of his efforts, including GM Veach, who said: “People don’t realize how hurt he was.
“We’ve all seen the injury. High ankles are terrible injuries, and sometimes guys miss two, three weeks, and he was out there running for a first down and a big play in the game that got us within field goal range.
“But it only adds to an already great legacy.”
Mahomes’ pain was not in doubt to those watching, but he later remarked: ‘I definitely didn’t feel well.
“I think the worst was when I tinkered. I tried to pick it up, and it was probably the worst I modified while playing.
“[The team] got me as close to 100% as possible. Then I just struggled and will have a few more weeks to prepare it [for the Super Bowl].”
