Patrick Mahomes comes back to improved Chiefs team

Patrick Mahomes was last seen on a football field in pain. With his kneecap on the outside of his right leg.

The Kansas City Chiefs MVP quarterback looked finished. So much so, the home Denver Broncos sent out a cart immediately. Somehow, Mahomes’ kneecap was put back into place before he waved off the cart and walked up the tunnel.

Only 22 days later, Mahomes is back. On Friday, the Chiefs officially announced he was returning for game action. After missing two games (and three quarters on that night in Denver), the 24-year-old will be starting on Sunday afternoon against the Tennessee Titans.

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As for Mahomes, he’s been circling this date for some time. Per NFL.com:

“We knew how we’ve kind of been doing the whole process of the injury in general is just seeing how I felt every single day. I knew I had a chance once I kind of talked to those doctors and they said that as long as I was functioning well, moving well, that I could play this week. Coach Reid still wanted me to take it day by day. So I went out here and practiced, and took the reps and I haven’t had any pains or any setbacks.

“And so, as long as we keep going with that, I’m glad to be back out there.”

When Mahomes was injured, the Chiefs were 4-2 and coming off consecutive losses. In each of those defeats, Kansas City was at home and allowed more than 180 rushing yards. Since then, the Chiefs have won two of three affairs, and the defense. has stiffened considerably. Despite playing good rushing offenses in the Broncos, Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings, none of the teams has had a 100-yard rusher, and only one eclipsed the century mark as a team.

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The defense has also taken dramatic steps against the pass. In those aforementioned defeats, the Chiefs managed zero sacks against the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans. In the last three games? Kansas City has 15, including nine against Denver and five on Aaron Rodgers and the Packers.

Enter Mahomes. The dynamic youngster suddenly has a defense behind him, a much easier schedule ahead (the Chiefs only have two games against teams above .500 remaining. They’ve already played five such games), and good health across the board. This is only the second time this season where Mahomes will have Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, Sammy Watkins and Mecole Hardman on the field at once. The last time was Week 1, and Hill lasted a quarter before being hurt.

Patrick Mahomes is back, and the Chiefs are more dangerous than ever.