The biggest question leading up to the 2023 AFC Conference Championship isn’t about how the weather and homefield advantage could benefit the Kansas City Chiefs or how the Cincinnati Bengals plan to make it four straight wins against their AFC rival. Instead, it’s about how Patrick Mahomes, 2022’s PFWA regular season MVP, will perform after suffering a high ankle sprain in the Chiefs’ 27-20 Divisional Round win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
It’s an important debate. Mahomes’ game revolves around his ability to escape pressure in the pocket and extend plays. When he decides to tuck the ball back into his ribs and make a break for it, he averages better than 7.5 yards per scramble. Limiting either factor would be a boon for Cincinnati and defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo.
So all eyes were on the star quarterback when he walked to the podium for his mid-week press conference Wednesday afternoon. Per Mahomes, the afflicted ankle is progressing nicely. He told reporters Wednesday that he’s “feeling good” that his rehabilitation is going well. Then, to illustrate that, he walked away from the podium without a walking boot on his bum ankle or even a noticeable limp via ESPN’s Michele Steele.
No walking boot pic.twitter.com/6yPnk8esNR
— Michele Steele (@MicheleSteele) January 25, 2023
Looks normal! Here’s a better view, per Fox 4 reporter Harold Kuntz:
Mahomes practicing today.. plenty of rehab and rest to get to being “excited” to see how practice goes. #Chiefs pic.twitter.com/jn6OYnyhdu
— Harold R. Kuntz (@HaroldRKuntz3) January 25, 2023
Does this mean Mahomes will be something approaching full strength Sunday? Betting odds were already swinging back toward Kansas City before he told the world his rehab was going well; after falling as far as a 2.5-point underdog, the Chiefs are now +1 at most sportsbooks. Will that number change as bets roll in on a regular-looking Mahomes? Or does his ability to walk without obvious pain betray any symptoms that could linger into the AFC title game and ultimately doom his team to its fourth loss vs. the Bengals since 2022?
We’ll have to wait and see if Wednesday’s press conference shed some meaningful light on Mahomes injury, or if he merely put on a good show to keep Anarumo’s defense on its toes this week.
