By now Kansas City Chiefs fans are used to watching in horror and amazement as Patrick Mahomes limps around the field after an ankle injury. That doesn't mean they have to like it.
On Sunday against the Bears, Mahomes had his ankle rolled up on by a defender just before halftime. He was able to continue in the second half with a heavily-taped ankle but Kansas City fans were still furious about the circumstances around the injury.
Just a few plays before, Mahomes seemingly got the Chiefs off the field with a long touchdown to Marquez Valdes-Scantling. That score was called back because of a penalty on right tackle Jawaan Taylor.
Patrick Mahomes appears to be in pain after getting his ankle rolled on pic.twitter.com/alBUWdIlE5
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) September 24, 2023
Taylor has a reputation for lining up too far off the line of scrimmage but in this case the call looked a bit suspect. His helmet may have actually been aligned with the center's belt line.
Fans immediately drew the connection between Mahomes having to stay out on the field to continue the drive and the subsequent ankle injury that had him limping into the locker room.
Chiefs fans blame NFL refs for Patrick Mahomes injury after questionable Jawaan Taylor penalty
Mahomes' ankle doesn't get rolled on if refs hadn't decided to treat Jawaan Taylor different than every other RT in the league.
— Seth Keysor (@RealMNchiefsfan) September 24, 2023
Should be up 38-0 with the Mahomes play never happening. Refs are picking on Jawaan Taylor because some dope decided to bully him on National TV.
— Zack Eisen (@zackeisen21) September 24, 2023
So Patrick Mahomes gets hurt on an uncalled dirty hit because the refs are picking on Jawaan Taylor?
— KC Chiefs Blog (@KCChiefsBlog) September 24, 2023
Here's a look at where Taylor was lined up. He doesn't look too far off, but the flag was thrown anyways.
For the record, here is where Jawaan Taylor was lined up when he was flagged for his second penalty that wiped out the TD. pic.twitter.com/uZOrjKEhLX
— Jesse Newell (@jessenewell) September 24, 2023
At this point, Taylor has a bad reputation and refs aren't letting him get away with anything. Neither is Andy Reid apparently. He was not in the lineup when the Cheifs got back from halftime.
Whether it was a ticky-tack call or not, the right tackle has to make sure he gives the refs nothing to call.
The bigger question may be why the Chiefs had Mahomes in the game with a 31-point lead and halftime coming up. Reid could have just handed the ball off to run out the clock to protect his quarterback from exactly what happened.