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Patrick Mahomes Recalls Injury from AFC Divisional Game vs. Browns

On Friday, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes opened up about the play that led to him being knocked out of his team’s playoff win this past weekend.

Mahomes passed the NFL’s concussion protocol and has been cleared to play. He’ll face the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship on Sunday. However, the hit he took during the Chiefs’ victory over the Cleveland Browns looked like it could derail his team’s Super Bowl aspirations.

Kansas City is looking to repeat and win back to back Super Bowl titles this postseason. Mahomes health is vital for the Chiefs’ chances at another championship. Yet during the third quarter of the divisional round, the QB took a hit that had all Kansas City fans holding their breathe.

Browns linebacker Mack Wilson tackled Mahomes and drove him into the ground on the play. The 2018 NFL MVP seemed to knock his head against the ground as Wilson tackled him. Additionally, as Mahomes tried to stand, he appeared shaky as his teammates helped him up.

The quarterback shared his thoughts on the play with reporters on Friday, according to FOX Sports’ Ryan Gaydos.

“We had an option play called that we had ran earlier in the game,” Mahomes explained. “I ran out to the right, obviously got hit, tried to get up, felt my legs go out.”

Patrick Mahomes Looking at Long Term, Not Just Short Term

Patrick Mahomes knew something was wrong as soon as he went to the ground. But being the competitor that he is, the quarterback tried to buy time for the team’s backup, Chad Henne.

“I knew that wasn’t a good thing, so I was able to get grabbed. I remember before going off the field, I was telling the trainers to let me stay there so Chad could warm up. Because I knew we were about to go for it on the fourth down. And I went into the (NFL protocol) testing and everything like that,” he said.

Last season’s Super Bowl MVP said he and team officials do not believe there are any lingering effects from the concussion. Mahomes acknowledges the importance of the league’s concussion tests though. He says players have to consider their long term health, not just any short term scenarios.

“You want to be out there, but you have to go through the protocol. And you have to do it the right way. I mean, you have to look at it long term as much as you look at the short term and going to all the doctors and talking to all the doctors and going through the testing. We have to believe there will be no lingering effects and I’ll be able to go out there and be myself and who I am every single week,” Mahomes said.

Mahomes will lead the Chiefs in their matchup against the Bills on Sunday to the relief of Kansas City fans. Whatever team wins the AFC Championship game will punch their ticket to Super Bowl LV. Kansas City, with Mahomes behind center, is now playing in their third consecutive conference title game.

[H/T FOX Sports]