Chiefs’ Mahomes expresses optimism after elbow injury scare

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Chiefs Kingdom held its collective breath Sunday when New York Jets defensive end David Bailey hit Patrick Mahomes.

The Chiefs star immediately showed discomfort in his throwing arm, holding his elbow in pain. The third down play ended the Chiefs’ drive and Mahomes returned to the game without missing an offensive snap.

On Wednesday, as the Chiefs prepare for a road game against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 10, Mahomes said the elbow injury is improving.

“We’re in a better spot than we were after the game,” Mahomes said. “I think it helped playing an earlier game. I was able to get some treatment after the game as well.”

Mahomes said a lot of treatment both at the facility and at home has gone into helping the elbow feel better. Head coach Andy Reid said Monday that Mahomes was day-to-day, but the three-time Super Bowl MVP expressed no doubts about his availability for Sunday’s game in Atlanta.

“I’ll be able to be out on the practice field, throw the ball and do all that different type of stuff and we’ll continue this process throughout the entire week so that I can be 100 percent on Sunday when we get to Atlanta,” Mahomes said. “It’s a process with a lot more time in the building but that’s something that I’m willing to do.”

The elbow injury and avoidance of worst-case scenario was something Mahomes said he was grateful for, acknowledging he felt good about how Chiefs trainer Julie Frymyer had helped work out some of the swelling in his elbow during Sunday’s game before an MRI revealed no further damage.

“I got a lot of swelling really quickly and with that swelling I wasn’t throwing the ball and wasn’t feeling exactly how I usually do when I throw it,” Mahomes admitted after finishing Sunday’s game 23 for 31 for 242 passing yards, 2 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. “Anytime you get in (the MRI room) you never know what it’s going to show on the machine after, so you can feel as optimistic as you do but then you get in there and something happens.

“After talking to the doctors, I feel like I’m in a great spot. Now it’s just about pain and pain management which I’ll do whatever I can to be in the best place possible.”

Mahomes and the Chiefs (6-2) are set for a 12 p.m. CT kickoff in Atlanta on Sunday against the 3-6 Falcons.