KANSAS CITY, MO. — Patrick Mahomes and his right ankle sprained passed the first test on Wednesday but “thousand play Thursday” served as the bigger hurdle, and it’s one the quarterback cleared with apparent ease.
Mahomes was a full participant in Thursday’s workout, which is the team’s most intense practice before Sunday’s AFC Championship game against Cincinnati.
“I think progressively I’ve gotten better throughout the week and I’m going to try to keep doing that, keep that same mentality and push it but then at the same time be ready to go whenever the game comes up,” Mahomes said before Thursday’s practice.
But Thursday’s practice served as a significant stepping stone for Mahomes in his rehabilitation from the high-ankle sprain sustained Saturday against Jacksonville.
“Today will be another test, a little bit harder practice, a little bit more speed,” Mahomes said. “You’re not going to be able to prepare yourself 100 percent for the game but you can do the best you can of putting yourself in those positions, and then hopefully by the end of the week you’re even in a better spot that you can go out there and do what you need to do to win.”
Head coach Andy Reid said his quarterback seemed comfortable on Wednesday and projected that Mahomes for the most part should be able to “the same things the way we normally do.” Thursday’s practice was about taking the next step.
“Just continue to work at not just the ankle but at the game plan, just work within the game plan and do what he needs to do there,” Reid said.
Each week Mahomes gives his input on the game plan but this will be different. He expects to provide Reid and offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy additional feedback on his comfort level with each play.
“If it’s a play I think we can utilize or if it’s a play that I think maybe it may not put me in the best position, I’ll let them know that,” Mahomes explained. “You do that in every game plan but obviously this week’s a little bit more important to let those guys know what I’m comfortable with but it’s hard when they have those great plays up there. Sometimes you want to make sure you can get those plays ran, especially when you’re playing a great team.”
This week for Mahomes has been a steady routine of arriving early at the team’s training facility for treatment before the normal team meeting and walk-through ahead of the afternoon practice. Since is the AFC Championship week, there are additional media obligations as well.
“You get treatment after practice after you’re watching film and stuff like that and then you do a little bit more rehab, then you go home,” Mahomes explained. “You get in all the different – they have like 8,000 different devices you can use before you go to sleep, and you wake up and do it all over again.”
Bieniemy attributed some of Mahomes quick recovery to his competitive nature and “the intestinal fortitude that’s in him.” But even Bieniemy can’t explain it all.
“He’s still working through it and the thing that – I have no idea, but I want whatever he’s taking.”
Mahomes attributes it to some of the preventive measures he takes in workouts both with the team’s athletic training staff and his personal trainer Bobby Stroup.
“You can’t prevent all injuries but you can prepare your body the best way possible so that whenever stuff like this last game happens, you’re able to bounce back quickly,” Mahomes said. “We’ve done a lot of ankle and knee and foot stuff, especially after my last few injuries I’ve had had, and I think that’s prepared me to bounce back quickly here and be able to be in a good spot that hopefully, I’m able to go out there and give 100 percent during the game.”
Mahomes is self-aware of the focus and attention on his right ankle. He seemingly engaged in the gamesmanship by eschewing the step to the podium in the team’s press conference room both on his way up and on his way down.
“I don’t know what you can really get from me walking but I think people will see on Sunday where I’m at, and I’ll see on Sunday where I’m at.”
Not even Mahomes knows for certain what he will be capable of on Sunday. The work in practice this week is helping him develop comfort and confidence but it won’t be until after kickoff when the quarterback will know how much he can trust his right ankle.
“You can’t fully do exactly what you’re going to be in those moments in the game but all I can do is prepare myself the best way possible and then when we get in the game, you adrenaline kind of takes over and you can make those throws when you need to,” Mahomes said.
Chiefs injury report
Did not practice: None
Limited participation: WR Mecole Hardman (pelvis)
Full participation: QB Patrick Mahomes (ankle), LB Willie Gay (toe) and RB Jerick McKinnon (ankle)
Bengals injury report
Did not practice: RG Alex Cappa (ankle) and LT Jonah Williams (knee)
Limited participation: TE Hayden Hurst (knee) and LB Joe Bachie (foot)
Full participation: C Ted Karras (knee), DE Sam Hubbard (not injury related/rest), DT DJ Reader (not injury related/rest) and CB Tre Flowers (hamstring)
