Saturday 19 October 2019 07:46, UK
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes escaped significant ligament damage when he dislocated his right kneecap and there is optimism the reigning NFL MVP could be back on the field in about a month.
An MRI exam confirmed that Mahomes dislocated his right kneecap in Thursday night's game against the Denver Broncos, but provided a positive prognosis.
ESPN's Adam Schefter, citing league sources, tweeted that the MRI result was a "best-case scenario." That means a limited absence for the reigning league Most Valuable Player of "about three games," Schefter reported.
With his team up 13-6 and facing a fourth-and-1 at the Denver 5-yard line with 10 minutes left in the second quarter, Mahomes ran a sneak to convert the first down.
But Mahomes remained on the ground, and when trainers came out, they appeared to be straightening his right knee. The 24-year-old was able to walk off the field with assistance, then once he was off the field, was able to walk without assistance down the tunnel toward the locker room.
When he met the media Friday afternoon, head coach Andy Reid confirmed Mahomes underwent the MRI but said he didn't have the results yet.
Mahomes entered the game playing on a tender left ankle he sprained in the season opener and aggravated several times, including Sunday in a home loss to the Houston Texans.
The Chiefs defeated the Broncos 30-6 on Thursday to move to 5-2 and retain their lead in the AFC West.
Mahomes began the night leading the NFL with 2,104 passing yards. He was 10-of-11 passing for 76 yards and a touchdown before exiting versus Denver.
After the injury, the Chiefs turned to veteran backup Matt Moore, who completed 10 of 19 pass attempts for 117 yards and a touchdown. Reid confirmed that Moore would start Kansas City's next game on Oct. 27 at home against Green Bay.
In 10-plus NFL seasons with the Carolina Panthers, Miami Dolphins and Chiefs, Moore, 35, Moore has completed 59.4 percent of his passes for 7,055 yards with 46 touchdowns and 36 interceptions.
Another veteran backup, 34-year-old Chad Henne, remains on injured reserve as he recovers from surgery after breaking an ankle in the preseason. The Chiefs signed Moore, who sat out the 2018 season, after Henne's injury.
Henne can't come off the IR until after Week 8, but there's no guarantee he'll be ready to play then. Reid said the Chiefs were considering elevating quarterback Kyle Shurmur, an undrafted rookie from Vanderbilt, from the practice squad.
