Andy Reid comments on starting Patrick Mahomes or Carson Wentz vs. Texans

Blair Kerkhoff, The Kansas City Star on Dec 17, 2024

Published in Football

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — If Patrick Mahomes’ injured ankle has recovered enough for him to play in Saturday’s game against the Houston Texans, he’ll play, Andy Reid said on Tuesday.

Mahomes suffered a high ankle sprain in the fourth quarter of the Chiefs’ 21-7 victory over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. On a fourth-and-3 from the Browns 39, Mahomes was pressured, stepped up in the pocket and was hit by two defenders.

Tuesday was the first day of practice since the game.

“He’s going to go through some stuff and see how that works out for him,” Reid said. “If he can’t work, then Carson (Wentz) will take those reps.”

Mahomes said this ankle injury isn’t as serious as the one he suffered in the 2022 AFC playoffs against the Jacksonville Jaguars. In that game, Mahomes was helped off the field at the end of the first half — and didn’t miss a snap in the second half or throughout the rest of the Super Bowl run.

“Jacksonville was worse,” Mahomes said. “That one was pretty significant. I mean, this one didn’t feel good by any means. The Jacksonville one was just the way (my ankle) got caught.”

Reid said the Chiefs schedule — playing three games in 11 days — won’t affect the decision of which quarterback goes on Saturday. Also, the Chiefs at 13-1 have the best record in the AFC and seek to become the top-seeded team in the playoffs. That would give them a bye in the first week of the postseason.

“The game counts,” Reid said. “If guys can play, they play. As long as medically they’re fine, they go.”

Wentz, a nine-year veteran who has started 93 games, finished the contest against the Browns, his first action of the season. He said he won’t change the way he prepares this week.

“Patrick has had nicks and bruises all year,” Wentz said. “I’ll prepare the way I have all year.”

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