Despite suffering a gruesome injury in the first quarter that sent him to the sidelines, Kansas City Chiefs superstar QB Patrick Mahomes is back in the contest against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Chiefs and Jaguars were locked at 7-7 with not long left on the clock in the first quarter when the horrific incident occurred.
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Just as the ball had left Mahomes’ hand, he was tackled by Jaguars defensive lineman Corey Peters and linebacker Arden Key.
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Despite being in visible pain, Mahomes was seen deep in conversation with Chiefs head coach Andy Reid and desperately wanted to stay in the game.
“We’re watching Patrick Mahomes on the sideline, he has yet to sit down,” Melissa Stark said on the broadcast.
“He was talking to Andy Reid and the training staff shaking his head saying: ‘I am good, I am good.’”
Commentator Mike Tiricio added: “You can see Ric Burkholder in that conversation. Rick has been the athletic trainer with Andy for 25, 24 years. A very animated conversation there as that decision gets made.”
Fellow commentator Cris Collinsworth said: “I’m with Patrick, if it’s just a sprained ankle … your work, your whole life to have a chance at a playoff game. He is this team, and if he’s over sitting on the bench, the offence and defence, everyone is a little deflated. I’m not saying it’s over or anything like that, but he’s the man, and he knows it.”
The Chiefs confirmed Mahomes’ return to the game was questionable at the time as Kansas City took a 17-10 lead into halftime as backup QB Chad Henne was thrust into the game.
Remarkably, Mahomes went back into the game in the third quarter as he looks to lead his side to ther AFC Championship game.
