Chiefs fans should be worried about Patrick Mahomes’ other big injury
Patrick Mahomes cleared concussion protocol this week, but a different injury is a bigger concern for the Chiefs.
Patrick Mahomes did not finish the Chiefs’ Divisional Round win over the Cleveland Browns due to a head injury that put him in concussion protocol. Progress throughout the week led to him clearing the league’s protocol on Friday, but a different injury is a bigger concern heading into Sunday night’s AFC Championship Game against the Buffalo Bills.
Mahomes is also dealing with a toe injury, which clearly limited him during last week’s game. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network has confirmed he’s dealing with turf toe in his left foot, but he is not expected to need offseason surgery.
Movement and mobility is a big part of Patrick Mahomes’ game
Mahomes obviously has elite arm talent. But some of his best and biggest plays come off-script on the move, and the fact he seemed to be moving without limitation during practice this week means little when things are ramped up to game action.
Back in Week 6 against the Bills, a 26-17 win, Mahomes was efficient (21-for-26, two touchdowns, no interceptions, 128.4 passer rating) more than dynamic as the Chiefs ran for 245 yards on 46 attempts and possessed the ball for nearly 38 minutes. He contributed 36 of those rushing yards, on a season-high 10 attempts as he was also only sacked once. Buffalo pressured Mahomes five times on 33 drop backs (according to Pro Football Reference) in Week 6. Sports Info Solutions tabbed one more dropback for Mahomes in the game, while citing the Bills playing mostly zone coverage.
Patrick Mahomes opposes a Bills secondary that ranked top-10 in Pass Defense Points Saved.
— SIS Football (@football_sis) January 22, 2021
In their Week 6 meeting, Buffalo used Zone coverage on 26-of-34 dropbacks.
If Mahomes was vulnerable against any scheme this season, it was Cover 3. pic.twitter.com/Zmc465tzSX
Bringing extra blitzers worked well for the Bills against the mobile Lamar Jackson in the Divisional Round. So if only to test how Mahomes is moving, I expect defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier to dial up a blitz or two early in the AFC title game.
The Bills generated pressure on 36.6% of dropbacks, led by Jerry Hughes who finished with a team-high 7 pressures.
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) January 17, 2021
11 different Bills defenders generated at least one pressure. Hughes was the only Bills defender with more than three.#BALvsBUF | #BillsMafia
It was the Bills max-blitz (6+ pass rushers) that consistently created pressure on Lamar Jackson & Tyler Huntley.
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) January 17, 2021
🔹 4-Man Rush: 8 QBP, 2 sacks (34.8% QBP rate)
🔹 5-Man Rush: 2 QBP, 1 sack (25.0% QBP rate)
🔹 6+ Rushers: 5 QBP, 1 sack (55.6% QBP rate)#BALvsBUF | #BillsMafia
Mahomes cleared concussion protocol quickly, five days after suffering the injury. But turf toe is nothing to take lightly either, and it’s a big concern for the Chiefs.
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