Bleedin Green Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 Quote KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Patrick Mahomes cleared the NFL's concussion protocol and will play for the Kansas City Chiefs in Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the Buffalo Bills at Arrowhead Stadium. "Talking to all of the doctors and going through all of the testing, we have the belief that I'll have no lingering effects and I'll be able to go out there and be who I am,'' Mahomes said after clearing the protocol. "You have to take it day by day. That's the best thing. You can only control what you can control. For me, that was coming in every day with a positive attitude, try to make myself better, try to prepare myself as if I was going to play. Luckily enough, I haven't had any symptoms and I'm able to play.'' Mahomes worked all three days of the Chiefs' practice week, so momentum had been building for his availability against the Bills. That's a dramatic switch from last Sunday's divisional round playoff win over the Cleveland Browns. Mahomes got up groggily after taking a big hit on a running play. The Chiefs soon announced Mahomes would not return to the game and would enter the concussion protocol, though they never said he had a concussion. Even then, there were signs Mahomes would return to play against the Bills. As he was injured, he had the presence of mind to ask the Chiefs' trainers to leave him on the field for a few moments rather than head to the sideline immediately. He wanted to delay to give backup quarterback Chad Henne time to warm up. Mahomes, after a quick sideline exam, ran down a set of stairs behind the Chiefs' bench and then up the tunnel to the locker room. "There's been a bunch of testing, a bunch of different things to make sure that I'm good to go and there's no lingering effects or anything like that,'' Mahomes said. "You want to be out there but you have to go through the protocol and you have to do everything the right way. You have to look at it long-term as much as you look at it short-term.'' Mahomes before the injury was also bothered with an ailing toe, which he said is feeling better than it was against the Browns. "Luckily enough for me, it wasn't as bad as it looked and felt that day or the day after,'' he said. Three other key Chiefs players who have been fighting injuries also were present for the start of Friday's practice: wide receiver Sammy Watkins (calf), running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire (hip, ankle) and cornerback Bashaud Breeland (concussion, shoulder). I know a bunch of us were talking about this at the time of the game, but it is the least surprising news imaginable. It's time for Conference Championship games, and with the league's new biggest money-maker in question, I don't think there was ever a doubt he would clear concussion protocol at a record rate. It's obviously for the good of the NFL for him to be out there, you just hope it's good for him too. I also can't help but take some joy out of the fact that this dramatically reduces the Bills odds for this Sunday. I'm no huge fan of KC by any measure, but they are far and away the easiest team remaining to root for. 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nycdan Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 I'm totally on the Mahomes train this week. I want Mahomes vs. Rodgers for the Super Bowl. I'll deal with my allegiances at that point, but in general, I expect Mahomes to break every single QB record out there and I plan to enjoy the ride. 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScarletKnight89 Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 Light them up Mahomes! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joewilly12 Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 Good news. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJ Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Team archer Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 Oh you thought henne was gonna play? Chiefs was gonna drag pat out like weekend at bernies if they had too 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SAM SAM HE'S OUR MAN Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larz Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 I’m so surprised. Let me get off the floor now. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike135 Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 Watson > Mahomes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skeet Ulrich Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 Bills win outright. Chiefs haven't been playing well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spoot-Face Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 Cleared 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pointman Posted January 23, 2021 Share Posted January 23, 2021 I have had my bell rung bad many times, sadly. Remember being in the locker room putting my socks one minute and the next memory is sitting at the table with a fork full of papardelle. There is zero chance Mahomes is anywhere near 100% himself. Still better than Henne on his best day though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Harris Posted January 23, 2021 Share Posted January 23, 2021 Shocker! mahomes Could be speaking in tongues and wearing diapers and the NFL would still clear him for the AFC championship 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rayzor Posted January 23, 2021 Share Posted January 23, 2021 After watching that replay a dozen times, i still couldn't see where he hit his head. Is it possible it was caused by just the overall "hit"? It does seem more like the theorized choke out that caused him to be out of it. His neck was definitely twisted up. If that were the case, he should be 100% Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New York Mick Posted January 23, 2021 Share Posted January 23, 2021 1 minute ago, rayzor said: After watching that replay a dozen times, i still couldn't see where he hit his head. Is it possible it was caused by just the overall "hit"? It does seem more like the theorized choke out that caused him to be out of it. His neck was definitely twisted up. If that were the case, he should be 100% It wasn’t a shot to the head according to the million doctors and specialists that talked about it. It was the lack of oxygen going to his brain similar to being hit in the neck or an mma choke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoadFan Posted January 23, 2021 Share Posted January 23, 2021 I listened to a Dr on sports radio today with a theory of what happened to Mahomes. Said unlikely he was choked out b/c wasnt long enough to deprive him of oxygen. Acknowledged concussion possible, but didnt seem to be enough force. Theory is that the forearm of the defender triggered a vasovagal nerve/reflex in his neck causing him to momentarily "pass out." I spoke to 2 other doctors myself and the theory makes a lot of sense to them. Although neither of them had ever heard of an example of a vagus nerve massage in football. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philc1 Posted January 24, 2021 Share Posted January 24, 2021 No way the tv networks were letting him sit out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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