By Peter Gleason
Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes says his ailing right ankle is “definitely in a better spot” than it was for the AFC Championship Game, and he doesn’t expect to be limited by it when he leads the Kansas City Chiefs against the Eagles in the Super Bowl.
Mahomes continues to get treatment on the ankle, which he hurt in the divisional round against Jacksonville, and that will probably continue up until Sunday’s kickoff.
“You won’t know exactly how it is until you get to game day,” he said.
“I mean, I definitely move around better than I was moving last week or two weeks ago. So, it’s just trying to continue to get the treatment and the rehab and get it as close to 100% and then rely on some adrenaline to let me do a little bit extra when I’m on the field.”
“He’s been doing really well with his ankle,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Wednesday. “We had a fast practice a couple days ago and he moved well. He can really do just about everything — at least everything in the game plan we asked him to do.”
Reid said everyone planned to work as the Chiefs ramped up with a more intense practice.
That includes JuJu Smith-Schuster, who missed practice last week with swelling in his knee, and fellow wide receiver Kadarius Toney, who likewise skipped all the workouts in Kansas City with a sprained ankle. It also includes cornerback L’Jarius Sneed, who cleared the concussion protocol this week and returned to practice.
All three of those players, along with linebacker Willie Gay Jr., were hurt in the AFC Championship Game. Gay came away with a relatively minor shoulder injury and practiced last week along with this week.
The Chiefs also are keeping a close eye on running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who was activated off injured reserve when wide receiver Mecole Hardman went on the list with a pelvis injury this week. The 2020 first-round pick has been out since November with a high ankle sprain, but there’s a chance Edwards-Helaire could be active for the Super Bowl.
