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Just days after Patrick Mahomes and his wife, Brittany, shared the joyous news of expecting their fourth child—sparking talk of another Super Bowl run given the Chiefs' history of reaching the big game during her pregnancies—Kansas City also celebrated a 35-12 bounce-back win over the New York Jets on Sunday. The two-time MVP delivered a steady performance, completing 23 of 31 passes for 242 yards and two touchdowns. However, a minor scare forced the Chiefs to seek outside medical expertise before clearing their franchise quarterback for the upcoming matchup with the Atlanta Falcons.
The concern arose late in the first half of Sunday's game when Jets edge rusher David Bailey sacked Mahomes twice in three plays. On the second sack, Bailey struck Mahomes' right throwing arm, causing a fumble and leaving the quarterback's arm hanging at his side. Mahomes warmed up on the sideline and returned without missing a snap. An MRI after the game revealed no major structural damage, but Mahomes admitted the hit left him uneasy. "Anytime it's elbows and knees it's always scary because you just don't know," he said.
Unwilling to take risks with their $500 million quarterback, the Chiefs—aware that elbow injuries are more common in baseball—contacted two MLB specialists for second and third opinions, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Chiefs vice president of sports medicine Rick Burkholder sent the scans to Kansas City Royals team physician Dr. Vincent Key, who believed Mahomes had avoided a serious injury. At Key's suggestion, they also reached out to Texas Rangers team physician Dr. Keith Meister that same night. Both doctors diagnosed a muscle strain and a very small sprain of the UCL, but agreed it was safe for Mahomes to continue playing. Head coach Andy Reid echoed that optimism on Monday, calling it "more positive news than negative news" about his signal-caller.
Key Analysis
The Chiefs' decision to consult MLB doctors highlights the proactive approach NFL teams take with quarterback injuries, especially given the prevalence of elbow issues in baseball. Mahomes' clean bill of health proved crucial, as he torched the Falcons' defense for 348 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions in a 35-13 rout at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The victory not only improved Kansas City's record but also reassured fans that their star quarterback is fully healthy for the remainder of the season.
Originally reported by yahoo.