Getty Patrick Mahomes pictured with girlfriend Brittany Matthews at The Maxim Big Game Experience in Atlanta, Georgia ahead of the 2019 Super Bowl.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ scary injury appears to be “fine,” according to fiancée Brittany Matthews.
Shortly after the 2018 NFL MVP was ruled out of Sunday’s AFC Divisional game against the Cleveland Browns, Matthews provided nervous fans an update on Mahomes’ condition.
I’m fine, Patricks fine, thanks for all the prayers!
WE STILL GOT A GAME TO WIN LETS GOOOOOO!!!
That should provide a sigh of relief for Chiefs Kingdom, who celebrated a nailbiting 22-17 win thanks to some late-game heroics from backup Chad Henne. With the Chiefs now set to host their NFL record third consecutive AFC Championship Game next Sunday against the Buffalo Bills, Mahomes will hopefully be healthy enough to take the field.
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Mahomes Appeared Disoriented After Third-Quarter Hit
Despite also suffering a big toe injury early in the game and needing to visit the blue medical tent on the sideline, Mahomes fought through a noticeable limp and guided his squad to a 19-3 halftime lead.
However, about halfway through the third quarter, Mahomes was on the receiving end of an awkward hit from Browns second-year linebacker Mack Wilson.
The whiplash-like impact from the tackle left the fourth-year signal-caller visibly unstable, requiring help from teammates to prevent him from falling while trying to stand to his feet.
Patrick Mahomes is headed to the locker room after taking this hit.
(via @NFLBrasil)
The Chiefs medical staff immediately took the 25-year-old into the blue medical tent for a second time before Mahomes jogged with them back to the team’s locker room for further evaluation. He ended the day completing 21-of-30 passes for 255 yards and two touchdowns (one rushing).
And Reid Gives Encouraging Postgame Update
Talking to reporters after the win, head coach Andy Reid was among those optimistic on Mahomes’ outlook.
“He got hit in the back of the head and it kind of knocked the wind out of him and everything else with it, so we took him out,” Reid told reporters on Sunday afternoon, via Yahoo Sports’ Terez Paylor. “He’s doing great right now, which is a real positive as we looked at this. [He] passed all the deals that he needed to pass. So, we’ll see where it goes from here.”
The Chiefs’ most important player now has six-plus days to pass through the five stages of the NFL’s concussion protocol, as detailed here by DraftKings Nation:
Rest and recovery: The player is prescribed rest until his signs and symptoms and neurologic examination, including cognitive and balance tests, return to baseline status.
Light aerobic exercise: Under direct oversight of the team’s medical staff, the player should begin graduated cardiovascular exercise and may also engage in dynamic stretching and balance training.
Continued aerobic exercise and introduction of strength training: The player continues with supervised cardiovascular exercises that are increased and may mimic sport-specific activities, and supervised strength training is introduced.
Football specific activities: The player continues cardiovascular, strength and balance training and participates in non-contact football activities (e.g. throwing, catching, running, and other position-specific activities).
Full football activity/clearance: Upon clearance by the Team Physician for full football activity involving contact, the player must be examined by the Independent Neurological Consultant (INC) assigned to his Club. If the INC concurs with the team physician that the player’s concussion has resolved, he may participate in his Club’s next practice or game.
The defending Super Bowl champions will spend the next two days installing a plan of attack against the well-rounded Bills team before next hitting the practice field on Wednesday. Reid, however, is expected to address the media — and most likely Mahomes’ progress — on Monday.
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