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Mackenzie Salmon breaks down the top storylines from Week 9 in the NFL.
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Patrick Mahomes expressed relief postgame following his ankle injury scare during the Kansas City Chiefs’ 30-24 overtime victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“I kind of awkwardly rolled the ankle a little bit. I think it hurt more because it’s the same ankle I hurt last week, so it scared me a little bit. But once I took my breath and calmed down a little bit, it ended up not being too bad,” Mahomes told reporters postgame.
Mahomes had to be helped off the field by the team’s medical staff midway through the fourth quarter. The Chiefs star quarterback was injured when he made a shot-put style touchdown pass to running back Samaje Perine for a 7-yard touchdown. Mahomes took an awkward step and his left ankle appeared to give out on him as he planted to throw.
Perine caught the football in the end zone, but all the attention was on Mahomes as he stayed on the ground in obvious pain. The Chiefs franchise quarterback was eventually escorted off the field by the team’s medical staff.
Mahomes was tended to in the Chiefs’ medical tent briefly, came out to workout his tender ankle and returned on Kansas City’s very next offensive series without ever missing a snap.
“Once the doctors checked it out and got back and did the drops again, (Andy Reid) let me get back out on the field,” Mahomes said.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid told reporters that he considered taking Mahomes out of the game before he was reassured the quarterback was alright.
“He might have the loosest ankles in America. I mean it’s ridiculous how he can come back from those things,” Reid said. “I told him I was gonna take him out and he probably wanted to fight me. He’s a tough kid.”
After a loud ovation when he returned to the field on the ensuing series, Mahomes orchestrated a 15-play, 78-yard go-ahead touchdown drive that put Kansas City up 24-17 with 4:17 remaining in the fourth quarter. The drive was capped off when Mahomes tossed a 5-yard touchdown pass to DeAndre Hopkins.
The Bucs were able to force overtime. But Mahomes led the Chiefs on a 10-play 70-yard game-winning touchdown drive in overtime to improve the club to 8-0.
Mahomes passed for 291 and three touchdowns in the overtime win. The Mahomes-led Chiefs are the sixth defending Super Bowl champion to start the regular season 8-0.
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The Chiefs quarterback appeared on Kansas City’s Week 9 injury report with an ankle injury, but he was a full participant in practice. Mahomes famously battled through another ankle injury during the 2022 postseason as the team went on a Super Bowl run.
Mahomes conceded that his ankle will likely be sore this week as Kansas City tries to extend its undefeated streak in Week 10 versus the Denver Broncos.
“Obviously have a little swelling (Tuesday),” Mahomes said. “But on a short week, you go in there and take care of it and be prepared to play next week.”
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.