Patrick Mahomes’ injury handling shows Chiefs may be spiraling in panic
Desperation surrounding the Kansas City Chiefs after falling to 0-2 for the first time in the Patrick Mahomes era is palpable. Meanwhile, the superstar quarterback surprisingly popped up on the team's Week 3 injury report with a right wrist issue.
Mahomes logged three consecutive full practices despite hurting his throwing hand in the Chiefs' 20-17 Super Bowl LIX rematch loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. He carries no designation heading into their
Conversely, the Chiefs' willingness to put Mahomes in harm's way against the lowly Giants speaks to the current state of affairs in Kansas City. They're playing with fire, knowing their franchise centerpiece and the face of the NFL is tending to a problem in his throwing hand. Regardless of how serious or not this may be, the handling of the situation is striking.
Chiefs' decision to let Patrick Mahomes play through wrist injury all but confirms panic in Kansas City
It'd be different if this were mid-November or a pivotal divisional clash. But versus the Giants. Really? Do the Chiefs not have faith in Mahomes' backup, Gardner Minshew?
The Chiefs are apparently prioritizing avoiding a third consecutive loss to start the year over erring cautiously with the heartbeat of their organization. They're seemingly downplaying the circumstances, which can be seen as a vote of confidence. Yet, Kansas City may be proceeding a little loosely for comfort.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said Mahomes sustained the malady in their defeat at the hands of the Eagles (h/t Charles Goldman of AtoZSports). The sideline general noted "some swelling" that Kansas City has since managed to "reduce." In other words, it sounds like the inflammation could be a factor when the nine-time reigning AFC West champions visit the Giants.
If the Chiefs can't trust Minshew to keep the ship afloat in an early-season matchup with an inferior interconference opponent, when can they? The Giants are among the worst clubs in football and should be a cakewalk for Kansas City, no matter who's under center.
Besides, it's not like Minshew is some scrub; he's a proven veteran with 46 starts under his belt. We saw him put up a Pro Bowl campaign that nearly yielded a playoff appearance as the Indianapolis Colts' top passer in 2023. Surely, the "Jockstrap King" can handle the G-Men.
Justin Jefferson FIRES BACK at Ja'Marr Chase's Bold Comments Before Vikings-Bengals Clash: “He’s Just Trying to Stir the Pot”
In a fiery exchange that’s sure to fuel the rivalry ahead of Sunday’s showdown between the Minnesota Vikings and the Cincinnati Bengals, Justin Jefferson has reacted strongly to Ja'Marr Chase’s controversial comments. Chase, ahead of the game, boldly declared, “If that’s what they want, I’ll do it,” in a statement that many felt was a clear jab at Jefferson’s perceived role as the NFL’s top wide receiver.
Jefferson didn’t mince words in his response. “He’s just trying to stir the pot,” Jefferson fired back. “I’m focused on what I can control—he can talk all he wants, but the game is played on the field. At the end of the day, it’s about what happens when we line up, not what we say leading up to it.”
Chase’s comments, made during a pre-game interview, have sparked a heated debate about the two wide receivers’ competition for the title of the league’s best. While Chase has been performing at a high level, Jefferson’s dominant performances throughout his career have made it clear that the bar has already been set.
“I don’t need to talk about it. My play speaks for itself,” Jefferson continued, clearly irritated by the notion that his place at the top is being questioned. “When it’s time to compete, that’s when the real challenge begins. He can run his mouth all week, but on Sunday, we’ll see who truly owns that title.”
With both players being key figures in their teams' offenses, all eyes will be on the Vikings-Bengals matchup to see if this rivalry lives up to the fiery pre-game build-up. One thing’s for certain: the tension between Jefferson and Chase is palpable, and the game is set to be a statement-making showdown.
