The Chiefs might be without Patrick Mahomes when they play the Texans on Saturday.
NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported Monday that Mahomes was diagnosed with “a mild high-ankle sprain following tests, and he’s still considered week-to-week” after exiting Sunday’s game against the Browns.
After the Texans on Saturday, the Chiefs play at the Steelers as part of a Netflix Christmas doubleheader next Wednesday.
The Chiefs’ backup quarterback is veteran Carson Wentz, who started one game for the Rams last season and seven for the Commanders in 2022.
The Chiefs are 12-1 and are the two-time defending Super Bowl champions.
The ankle has been a recurring issue for Mahomes, who despite being hobbled has continued to perform at an elite level.
In a November game against the Bucs, Mahomes came down awkwardly on a touchdown pass to running back Samaje Perine.
It was the second straight week he’d tweaked the ankle.
“Definitely scary,” Mahomes told reporters at the time. “I think it hurt more just because it’s the same ankle I rolled last week, so it scared me a little bit.
“When you don’t know exactly what happens and you get that sharp pain, you always fear the worst.”
Mahomes also suffered a high-ankle sprain during the 2022-23 playoffs against the Jaguars.
“The one in the playoffs a couple of years ago was a little bit of how I got tackled,” Mahomes said earlier this season. “It got stuck, and it hurt a lot more. [This time] I could move, I could still have mobility in my ankle, and I still do after this game. I’ll probably get a little swelling tomorrow. But with a short week, you go in there and take care of it and be prepared to play next week.”
Nevertheless, Mahomes was able to make it back for the Super Bowl, in which the Chiefs defeated the Eagles 38-35.
