KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Wearing a puffy white coat, black pants and bigger-than-usual black sneakers, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes walked into Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday morning without a noticeable limp, a good sign that his rehab this week for his high ankle sprain was successful.
The question, though, ahead of the Chiefs’ game against the Texans is this: Will Mahomes exit Arrowhead this afternoon with the same smooth gait?
The Chiefs need to do everything they can — whether it’s play calling from coach Andy Reid, emergency left tackle Joe Thuney (making his second start at the position in less than a week) or the receivers — to make sure Mahomes doesn’t aggravate his injury or suffer an even more significant one. The Texans are second in the NFL with 45 sacks and ninth with 85 quarterback hits. Mahomes has been hit a league-leading 102 times.
One positive for Mahomes is that he will play Saturday with receiver Marquise Brown alongside him for the first time. Brown, a speedy veteran making his Chiefs debut, could be one of Mahomes’ top options on third down, especially if the Texans elect to play man-to-man coverage, a tactic that has worked for other opponents this season. On the opening snap of the preseason, Brown suffered a dislocated collarbone when he was driven to the turf awkwardly on his left shoulder.
This week was the first since early August that Brown was a full participant in all three practices leading up to Saturday’s game.
