Patrick Mahomes Injury Update and a missed opportunity for Carson Wentz to do the funniest thing imaginable

The Kansas City Chiefs escaped Cleveland with a win, but not without a scare. Patrick Mahomes exited the game in the second half with an apparent ankle injury after being caught underneath two defenders during a tackle.

Patrick Mahomes limps off field after injuring ankle:

Patrick Mahomes limps off after getting tangled up on a failed 4th down pic.twitter.com/WnIgmsscfN

— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) December 15, 2024

The sight of Mahomes walking gingerly off the field was enough to send shockwaves through ‘The Kingdom’ and here in Philadelphia, we witnessed our old friend, and current Chiefs’ backup quarterback Carson Wentz, enter the game to seal the 21-7 victory for Kansas City.

The good news, is that reports today indicate that Mahomes’ x-rays came back negative and he is considered week-to-week pending further tests. The bad news, is that Carson Wentz will not be under center for the rest of the year in Kansas City.

Patrick Mahomes Considered Week-to-Week with Ankle Injury:

#Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, who left today’s game early with a right-ankle injury, is considered to be week-to-week, source say based on the preliminary diagnosis.

X-Rays were negative. More tests and info coming on Monday. pic.twitter.com/OsSdEovaTR

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 15, 2024

Details on Patrick Mahomes Ankle Injury:

The Chiefs listed Mahomes as questionable to return after he was seen getting his ankle taped on the sideline. While it’s possible he could’ve come back if the game were closer, the team opted to let Wentz finish the job.

• No Fractures: X-rays were negative, suggesting no serious structural damage.
• Likely a Sprain: This is consistent with Mahomes’ history of ankle injuries.
• Week-to-Week: His availability for next week against the Texans remains uncertain.

For a player who has made a career of dodging serious injuries despite taking some brutal hits, Mahomes seems to have avoided catastrophe yet again which crushed my personal dreams of Carson Wentz leading the Chiefs to glory this season.

While Chiefs fans are undoubtedly relieved Mahomes is likely fine, I’ll admit a part of me was hoping Wentz would have an extended chance to lead this team.

It’s hard not to draw a parallel to the 2017 Eagles Super Bowl run, when Wentz went down with a season-ending injury, and backup Nick Foles carried Philadelphia to its first-ever Lombardi Trophy. Wentz was having an MVP-caliber campaign before his injury.

But when Foles stepped in, he delivered one of the most magical postseason runs in NFL history, including an MVP performance in Super Bowl LII.

There’s a strange symmetry in imagining Wentz, now a backup in Kansas City, getting the chance to pull off his own version of redemption by leading another team to a title. Of course, Mahomes is no stranger to playing through pain and adversity, so Wentz may have to keep waiting for his shot.

Chiefs Focused on Securing the No. 1 Seed

The Chiefs improved to 13-1 and have already clinched the AFC West, but their eyes remain firmly on locking up the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye. With the Houston Texans up next, the Chiefs have a favorable matchup, whether it’s Mahomes or Wentz under center.

This isn’t Mahomes’ first time dealing with an ankle injury.

Earlier this season, he tweaked the same ankle but didn’t miss any time, and in the 2019 playoffs, he famously played through a high ankle sprain en route to a Super Bowl victory. If history is any indicator, Mahomes will do everything in his power to stay on the field.

The Chiefs have three games left:

1. Week 16: vs. Houston Texans
2. Week 17: at New York Jets
3. Week 18: vs. Las Vegas Raiders

With the division wrapped up, Kansas City has the luxury of prioritizing Mahomes’ health. Whether they ride with Mahomes or Wentz next week, the Chiefs remain the AFC’s top contender.

Mahomes avoided serious injury—again—but the thought of Carson Wentz stepping in and leading a magical run is one of those storylines you can’t help but imagine. Philadelphia fans have seen what happens when Wentz is sidelined and someone else takes the reins.

Maybe, just maybe, there’s another chapter waiting to be written in Kansas City.

For now, though, all eyes are on Mahomes and the tests he’ll undergo Monday. The Chiefs may be rolling, but the story of their season—and postseason—just got a little more intriguing.

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