KANSAS CITY, Mo. — In between spraining his left ankle in Week 1 and dislocating his right kneecap in Week 7, this season turned into a continuous injury rehab assignment for Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, but heading into the team's final game before the bye week he finds himself rejuvenated.
“I felt really good honestly,” Mahomes said as he began preparation Thursday for a Monday night matchup in Mexico City against the Los Angeles Chargers. “Just going out there and being able to play the game, do the things that I've grown accustomed to doing of scrambling and doing all that different type of stuff and coming out healthy was definitely a positive sign and I'm glad I can keep moving forward with that.”
Health wise, Mahomes said he hasn't felt this good since before Week 1 when he suffered a sprained left ankle against Jacksonville.
“I would say going into the Jacksonville game,” Mahomes said. “Just not having to worry about the ankle or not have to worry about the knee and just being able to go out there and play football the way that I have been able to play it my whole career so far.”
Mahomes sat out two games with a dislocated right kneecap before returning last Sunday against Tennessee. He delivered a routinely MVP-like performance, finishing 36-of-50 passing for 446 yards and three touchdowns against the Titans. He said he felt comfortable from the moment he took the field for pregame warmups.
“I think pregame and throughout the week, you're trying to push it and trying to see what you can do and what you can't do,” Mahomes said. “When I got on that field, I realized I was good to go and that everything that I had done with the trainers and doctors had prepared me for the game.”
Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn says he doesn't see any difference from the MVP form of Mahomes last season and the tape from last week's game against the Titans.
“He had a fantastic season, and this year he was injured, he missed a couple of games, but I think he's just picking up where he left off,” Lynn said. “He's still making every throw in the book, he's extending plays and he's checking, getting into the right plays versus certain looks. I don't see a difference in Patrick one bit.”
