-
Adam Teicher, ESPN writer
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Chiefs are preparing for Patrick Mahomes to start Saturday’s game against the Houston Texans, but if their star quarterback’s bad ankle prevents that from happening, they believe they can succeed if the backup Carson Wentz plays.
“We have complete confidence in Carson,” coach Andy Reid said. “If he has to step in and play, then I think everyone, coaches and players, will have full confidence that he can come in and do a good job.” “He’s started in the league and been successful. He has a great feel for this offense. Very smart, big arm. I like the way he carries himself. I like everything about him. He should start in this league somewhere , so he is “A great player.”
Mahomes said he is pleased with the progress his injured right ankle has made since suffering a sprained ankle in Sunday’s 21-7 win over the Cleveland Browns. He said this injury is not as serious as a similar one he received in a 2022 divisional round playoff game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
He then returned to the game after a brief layoff and played in both the AFC Championship Game against the Cincinnati Bengals and the Super Bowl against the Philadelphia Eagles.
“Obviously, it’s football and you’re going to get hit, but you want to be able to protect yourself. So that’s where I’m at and I don’t want to limit the game plan. That’s another thing for me. What I mean is I want to be able to move around the pocket so that let’s not just sit in one place the whole game and let his D-line really chase him. It’s about me finding that balance and seeing where I am…I won’t know until he’s nice near the end of this one. week.”
Patrick Mahomes, on his ankle injury
“That [injury] “It was pretty significant,” Mahomes said. “But I want to be in a better position than the next game against the Bengals. So I’ll try to see if I can get there.
“I want to be able to move. I want to be able to get out of the way. [Houston’s] It’s a good pass rush, good defense. They fly around. You don’t want to go out and put yourself in danger. Obviously, it’s football and you’re going to get hit, but you want to be able to protect yourself. So that’s where I’m at and I don’t want to limit the game plan. That’s another thing for me: I want to be able to move around the pocket so we’re not sitting in one spot the entire game and letting their D-line really get after it. It’s about finding that balance and seeing where I am… I won’t know until near the end of this week.”
The Chiefs (13-1) have clinched the AFC West championship and a playoff spot, but are chasing the AFC’s No. 1 seed, which comes with a first-round bye and home-field advantage. home. They would clinch it with two wins in their final three games, so they could lose to the Texans but still get the top spot by beating the Pittsburgh Steelers and Denver Broncos in the final two games.
“I wouldn’t say it’s terrible that he plays,” Mahomes said. “It’s not the AFC Championship Game where we play to get to the Super Bowl. We have a little room to spare, but at the end of the day, we’re trying to win. We’re trying to win the football game and I’m a competitor. I want to go out and play, so I will work to get to the best possible place over the next few days and then we can make a decision.
“I’m not going to put our team in a bad position. If I feel like I can play and go out and win a football game, I’ll play. And if I don’t I feel like that’s the best case scenario.” “I’ll let guys like Carson play. He’s a guy who’s also winning this league, so it’s about trying hard this week, seeing where I’m at and making the best decision.”
Wentz is in his first season with the Chiefs. He replaced Mahomes in the fourth quarter of the game against the Browns.
Reid said Mahomes asked him why Wentz doesn’t have a starting job somewhere in the NFL and suggested Wentz would have one of those jobs next season.
“Those are the conversations you hear with the guys in that room,” Reid said. “Selfishly, I would like to keep him here at his position, but I know what’s going on out there with quarterbacks and this guy is I think he’s really good.”
