Patrick Mahomes took a hard shot to his throwing arm late in the first half of the Chiefs' game against the Jets on Sunday, fumbling the ball away before fighting through soreness to return to the field before halftime. The Kansas City quarterback was checked out on the sideline and then went back to work, helping set up a field-goal attempt as the Chiefs carried a 14-12 lead into the break.
Bailey's Sack Jars the Ball Loose
The hit came as Mahomes was in the act of throwing, when Jets defender David Bailey got to him and forced a fumble that New York recovered, according to kansascity.com. Mahomes was checked out by medical personnel before testing the arm himself, throwing the football on the sideline to gauge whether he could keep playing, per a report from NBC Sports. It marked Bailey's second sack of the game, and the rookie defender, the No. 2 overall pick in last April's draft, now has 7½ sacks on the season, according to a report from KSHB.
Per KMBC, Mahomes held his right elbow and forearm while appearing to be in significant pain on the sideline after the hit. He returned to the field on the Chiefs' following drive before halftime, the station reported.
Back on the Field Before the Half Ended
Mahomes came back onto the field after Jets kicker Jason Sanders missed a 53-yard field goal with 37 seconds left in the half, the same NBC Sports account notes. Once back in the game, he completed a 12-yard pass to Travis Kelce and scrambled away from Bailey for seven more yards, moving the Chiefs into position for a Harrison Butker field-goal attempt.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid addressed the injury in a conversation with CBS, saying, “He hurt his elbow a little bit. It's sore, but he came back,” according to the same kansascity.com report. Reid also described Mahomes as a tough kid in comments relayed through CBS reporter Tracy Wolfson, per KMBC. When the Chiefs got the ball to start the second half, Mahomes was back on the field, the outlet's report indicates.
A Rough Season Continues for Butker
The field goal Mahomes helped set up added to what has already been a shaky season for Butker, who entered the game just 2-for-8 on field-goal attempts of 50 yards or more and 12-for-19 overall, per the KSHB report. The Chiefs led the Jets 14-12 at the break, with Mahomes back under center to start the third quarter.
