KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Patrick Mahomes, the quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs, is anticipated to take the field against the Houston Texans on Saturday. This comes less than a week after he suffered a high-ankle sprain during a victory over the Cleveland Browns. Moreover, wide receiver Marquis Brown is expected to make his regular-season debut after recovering from a shoulder injury sustained earlier this year.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid shared insights following a brief practice on Thursday, indicating that Mahomes appeared to be agile on his injured ankle, stating, “he’ll most likely end up playing.” This sentiment was echoed by Mahomes himself earlier in the week, as the two-time NFL MVP expressed his intent to participate unless he felt unable to adequately protect himself due to the injury. Reid recognized his concern regarding Mahomes’ condition closely after the incident but noted, “He moved around pretty good.”
In addition to Mahomes’ situation, wide receiver Brown is poised to return to a very different offensive environment compared to what he experienced during the offseason. He dislocated a joint in his shoulder on the very first play of the preseason against Jacksonville, which necessitated surgery and kept him sidelined from practice until last week. Despite this setback, Brown was able to maintain his fitness during his rehabilitation, allowing him to adapt to the team’s offensive structure efficiently. Coach Reid commended Brown’s efforts, stating, “He’s done a nice job. It wasn’t his legs that were limited, so he has been able to stay in running shape.”
Brown enters an offense that has undergone significant changes since the beginning of the season. The Chiefs recently lost their top wideout, Rashee Rice, to a knee injury, leading to Kansas City acquiring three-time All-Pro DeAndre Hopkins from the Tennessee Titans. Additionally, Isiah Pacheco has dealt with injuries, prompting the team to bring in Kareem Hunt. The new running back tandem is now sharing responsibilities to reinforce the backfield.
As the Chiefs gear up to face the Texans, they will likely field one of their most well-rounded offensive lineups yet. However, there are still unresolved issues at the left tackle position. Coach Reid mentioned that All-Pro guard Joe Thuney has grown more comfortable protecting Mahomes’ blind side during practice this week. Meanwhile, rookie Kingsley Suamataia and second-year player Wanya Morris have also had opportunities in that role, although neither has secured a definitive position.
In terms of player injuries, Reid added that D.J. Humphries is recovering from a hamstring issue. The former Pro Bowl left tackle, who joined the Chiefs after a torn ACL, experienced an injury in his debut. The team is taking a cautious approach with him, hoping he can contribute during the playoffs. “We don’t want him to do it again, but eventually he’ll get back in there,” Reid noted, mentioning there’s a possibility he could play against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas Day.
Cornerback Chamarri Conner is also progressing but will remain in concussion protocol for the upcoming matchup against Houston. He might be cleared for action in the following game against the Steelers.
The Chiefs have openly criticized the NFL for mandating a condensed schedule that forces four teams, including themselves, to play three games within 11 days. Mahomes described this schedule as “not a good feeling,” expressing concern for the physical toll it takes on players. Defensive tackle Chris Jones also weighed in, suggesting the league should have allowed for a later bye week for the involved teams.
DeAndre Hopkins voiced even stronger concerns, arguing that the league needs to reassess the impact of this intense scheduling on player safety. “I think the league should definitely do something about that. Give teams some kind of mini-bye somewhere down the line,” he urged, emphasizing that the current demands are not conducive to player welfare.