Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes Expanding Practice Role, but No Commitment on Return
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said quarterback Patrick Mahomes will take on a larger workload in practice this week, but he made no commitment to whether the league MVP returns Sunday to play on the road at the Tennessee Titans.
“Patrick's going to practice today,” Reid said. “I can't give you an answer on how much. We're going to see how he does, then I think it's going to be day-to-day, but we got to see how he handles (it).”
Mahomes took No. 2 reps during position drills in the portion of practice open to the media. Matt Moore took the No. 1 reps, and Reid said he plans to prepare both quarterbacks as potential starters.
“We'll get both guys ready to go like we did last week and we'll take it from there and see how it all works,” Reid said.
Mahomes sat out the past two games after dislocating his right kneecap against Denver in Week 7. Mahomes crosses the three-week mark since the injury on Thursday, a date considered significant in the rehabilitation process when chances of re-injury diminish significantly.
“You keep checking it and re-checking it and talking with the kid, and there's a whole communication process that goes on with it,” Reid said. “Everybody heals different. We're not going to put him out there unless he's safe to do it. But he's got to go through this work level and keep increasing it and see how he does.”
Reid said on Monday he didn't need to see a full practice from Mahomes before putting him back on the field, but the coach said he did need to see how the quarterback handled both an increased workload and how he feels the next day. He continues saying he will lean on the team's training staff for clearing Mahomes for game-day duty, including Rick Burkholder, the club's vice president of medicine and athletic performance.
“Now it's a matter of just going through and doing it, increase his work level, see how he handles and that's where we're at,” Reid said. “We'll monitor it, Rick will, and we'll just see how he does. There's no answer right now for it.”
