KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Patrick Mahomes’ throwing hand isn’t broken.
That’s the good news for Kansas City Chiefs fans, who undoubtedly are still basking in the glow of the team’s 23-16 victory Sunday at the New England Patriots.
Mahomes appeared to injure his right hand when he fell awkwardly on Kansas City’s opening drive of the game.
He finished 26 of 40 for 283 yards with a touchdown and interception despite the injury in the win, which clinched a fourth straight AFC West division title for the Chiefs.
“Patrick's hand is OK,” coach Andy Reid said during Monday’s teleconference with reporters. “It's bruised up pretty good, but there's no break in it. I know that.”
Mahomes remained in the game despite the hand injury, but he could be seen shaking it and holding it close to his body after several throws.
Reid conceded that the injury affected the game plan a bit.
"He was having a little tougher time gripping the ball, so we went with a little bit more of the shallow cross game — you saw that,” Reid said. “Ran the ball a little bit more, probably, but that was it, for the most part."
Nonetheless, with the Chiefs in position to possibly nab the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye in the playoffs if the team wins out and the Patriots lose one more game, Reid said there’s no consideration of resting Mahomes at this point.
Kansas City hosts a resurgent Denver Broncos team, which won Sunday at Houston behind a record-setting performance by Lee’s Summit native and University of Missouri grad Drew Lock.
Mahomes is expected to play when the game kicks off at noon at Arrowhead Stadium.
“Right now, I'd tell you that, most likely, yes,” Reid said. “But let's see how he does here in the next couple of days. … He can still be effective.”
Besides, Reid appreciates the toughness and tenacity Mahomes shows from the quarterback position.
“You're the face of the organization and the leader of the team,” Reid said. “There are certain things that you have to do and step up. It's not just one thing — it's not that you just have to throw the ball 50 yards down the field, but that you lead the guys around you to be even better than what they are. He has an innate ability to do that.”
