In a devastating turn of events for the Kansas City Chiefs, quarterback Patrick Mahomes has suffered an ankle injury during Sunday’s 21-7 win against the Cleveland Browns, leaving him out for an estimated three months. The news comes just as the Chiefs are gearing up for an intense stretch in the NFL season.

Mahomes, who was removed midway through the fourth quarter, expressed uncertainty about his availability for the upcoming game against the Houston Texans. “It’s hard to say right now,” Mahomes remarked after the game, still feeling the effects of adrenaline. “You still have the adrenaline rolling, and usually it’s kind of the day after when you get a good sense of it.”

Despite his desire to keep playing, Mahomes acknowledged that taking himself out of the game was the best decision for his long-term recovery. “I feel like I could have finished the game in different circumstances, but I thought the smart decision was to put Carson [Wentz] in,” he said.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid provided an update on the injury, confirming that it wasn’t a break but noting that Mahomes’ ankle was “sore.” He assured fans that Mahomes would begin the rehabilitation process immediately, but it remains to be seen how the star quarterback will fare in the coming weeks. Reid emphasized the need for patience and the importance of focusing on recovery. “He’ll get started on the rehab part of it as we go, and then we’ll just have to see how he does down the road here,” Reid said.

The injury occurred during a fourth-down play in the fourth quarter when Mahomes was hit from behind by Cleveland’s Dalvin Tomlinson while also taking a hit to the upper body from Mike Hall. Despite the injury, Mahomes remained on the sideline for the rest of the game, limping off the field to the locker room after the Chiefs’ victory.

Mahomes was performing at a high level before the injury, completing 19 of 38 passes for 159 yards and two touchdowns. However, he was under consistent pressure throughout the game, facing 21 hits and several pass rushes. Despite the discomfort, Mahomes expressed confidence in his team’s ability to finish the game, especially with backup quarterback Carson Wentz stepping in and helping secure the win.

Reid defended the team’s offensive playcalling, particularly after Mahomes’ injury. “You’ve got to be able to throw the ball in this league. Some of our runs didn’t work too well either, so we’ve got to make sure we clean that up and get that going,” Reid said. The Chiefs struggled with three-and-outs in the plays leading up to Mahomes’ injury, which Reid acknowledged as a point of focus for improvement.

The loss of Mahomes for an extended period poses a major challenge for the Chiefs as they strive for another successful playoff run. With key games coming up, the team will need to lean on its backup quarterbacks, including Wentz, and hope for the swift return of their star quarterback.