Patrick Mahomes was injured during the Kansas City Chiefs’ Week 9 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, he quickly returned to the game. Here’s what happened in the moments that led to the injury, along with any new updates that have become available.
What Happened to Patrick Mahomes in Week 9?
Mahomes appeared to injure his left ankle as he threw the pass to RB Samaje Perine in the end zone. Mahomes wasn’t touched by a Buccaneers’ defensive player during the play.
Mahomes remained on the ground for a moment before being helped to the sideline by Kansas City’s training staff. He entered the blue medical tent and quickly exited after being evaluated.
Here’s the play on which Patrick Mahomes was injured – before he began jogging along the sidelines. pic.twitter.com/zOoJFhMhqZ
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 5, 2024
Mahomes left the tent, and the crowd in Kansas City erupted as the Chiefs’ star quarterback jogged down the sideline. When he exited the game, Mahomes was 23 of 29 passing for 189 yards and 2 touchdowns.
At the time of Mahomes’ uncertain status to return to the game, Kansas City’s medical staff gave ESPN’s Lisa Salters a thumbs up, and Mahomes returned to the field shortly after.
On Kansas City’s ensuing drive, Mahomes threw his third touchdown pass of the game against the Buccaneers. Mahomes connected with DeAndre Hopkins for the veteran wide receiver’s second touchdown of the night.
Potential Long-Term Impact if Mahomes Misses Time
While Mahomes returned to the game, we have seen several recent instances where a player missed the next game. If he is forced to miss time, Carson Wentz is Kansas City’s backup quarterback. Since an MVP-caliber performance in 2017, Wentz has endured a roller coaster of a career in the NFL.
While Mahomes is simply irreplaceable, Wentz showed promise in his only start of the regular season in 2023.
Wentz started one game during a short stint with the Los Angeles Rams. He completed 17 of 24 passes for 163 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Wentz also added 17 rushing attempts for 56 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
Wentz wouldn’t provide the same upside as Mahomes, yet his floor would be relatively high in Kansas City. Given the weapons on the Chiefs’ offense, Wentz would be a player worth stashing on your fantasy football roster.
Mahomes’ QB+ Grade in 2024
The natural instinct of seeing Mahomes ranked barely inside the top 10 will make people question our metric. However, it’s worth noting that it had him as the top-ranked player in his 2022 MVP year, second in both 2019 and 2020, and third in 2021.
Our QB+ metrics have given Mahomes his due when he deserved it, but in the last two years, his level has dropped off a touch. Nevertheless, he’s still a top-10 quarterback who knows how to help his teams win games.
According to our QB+ metrics, Mahomes received a letter grade of B+ for his performance against the Buccaneers, which ranked in the top five among all quarterbacks in Week 9.
Mahomes’ performances in clutch situations have remained strong despite drop-offs in other areas. This year, his biggest issue has been passing from a clean pocket (25th), yet much of that can be reasoned as a tough situation at receiver, which is also showing in his 14th-ranked net YPA this year.
The arrival of Hopkins should only improve the outlook for Mahomes going forward. There is little doubt that he is skilled enough to finish the year somewhere inside the top 10.