Patrick Mahomes Returns to Kansas City Chiefs Practice

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes returned to practice on Wednesday, marking his first return to action after suffering a head/neck injury against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said rookie linebacker Willie Gay Jr. was the only player who did not practice on Wednesday, meaning that Mahomes, Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Sammy Watkins all practiced in some form.

"He looked good, he's just in the protocol, so there's only certain things he can do, it's a limited basis, but today was a little bit of a limited practice, so this fit right into what he could do," Reid said, regarding Mahomes. "But he took all the snaps and he feels good. We're just going to follow this protocol as closely as we possibly can."

According to Reid, Mahomes is still working through the concussion protocol, but his position in the process apparently allowed Mahomes to take the day's work since Wednesday's practice was limited.

Reid also noted that Thursday's practice will be the more significant indicator for the players who were able to participate in a limited capacity in Wednesday's lighter practice.

Patrick Mahomes, with the rare "concussion/toe" injury designation, was a full participant in practice today. https://t.co/RwzzWm0Tge
— Joshua Brisco (@jbbrisco) January 20, 2021

Before practice on Wednesday, Mahomes was reported as planned in a "very light" capacity, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

"Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes will have a very light practice today as part of his plan while in the NFL concussion protocol, source said," Rapoport tweeted. "Could be listed as limited or DNP, but his work will ramp up during the week. Mahomes, who has no symptoms, will do some tolerance tests, too."

Rapoport later tweeted again, noting that Mahomes' planned slow, ramping-up return to the field shouldn't change much for the Chiefs' practices this week.

"Practices this time of year are basically for mental reps, anyway," Rapoport tweeted. "More like glorified walkthroughs. So Mahomes won’t miss much, either way."

This bodes well for Mahomes' chances to return in time for the Chiefs' AFC Championship Game against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, but Mahomes still has hurdles to clear.

#Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes will have a very light practice today as part of his plan while in the NFL concussion protocol, source said. Could be listed as limited or DNP, but his work will ramp up during the week. Mahomes, who has no symptoms, will do some tolerance tests, too.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 20, 2021

On Monday morning, Sam Mellinger of The Kansas City Star tweeted two bits of news on the Chiefs' optimism for Mahomes' potential return against the Buffalo Bills next Sunday.

"Six days out and protocols to clear so nobody knows anything for sure but I’d describe the Chiefs’ general mood as cautiously optimistic that Patrick Mahomes will play against the Bills," Mellinger tweeted.

Roughly 45 minutes later, Mellinger added an update.

"Update: let's just say the mood around Mahomes ranges from cautiously optimistic to 100 percent sure he will play. He still needs to #ClearTheDeals, but for now I'm operating on the assumption that he's playing on Sunday."

On Tuesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN tweeted that Mahomes "cleared certain steps Monday, 'some big steps,'" but that Mahomes is still in the concussion protocol and that his status for Sunday's game is still uncertain.

Additionally Patrick Mahomes is dealing with a foot issue, per source. He still must go through certain steps to clear concussion protocol in the coming days, and there is hope and optimism, considering he is expected to practice Wednesday, per source. https://t.co/zKwHaosaA3
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 19, 2021