Super Bowl 57: Patrick Mahomes’ ankle feeling better
Heading into Super Bowl 57, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is feeling more confident about his high ankle sprain.
It’s the most famous ankle in America.
Patrick Mahomes, superstar quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs, is still recovering from a right high ankle sprain. He initially sustained the injury against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC Divisional round.
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The injury caused Mahomes to miss one drive for Kansas City — a 98-yard touchdown drive led by backup quarterback Chad Henne — and has yet to truly cost the Chiefs. They beat Jacksonville by a 27-20 count that night. One week later, they dispatched the Cincinnati Bengals with Mahomes throwing for 326 yards and two touchdowns in a 23-20 triumph.
However, with Super Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles rapidly approaching, Mahomes’ ankle is becoming a source of conversation once more. And luckily for the Chiefs, the news has largely been good. Per ESPN:
“You won’t know exactly how it is until you get to game day. 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.”
Entering Thursday morning, Kansas City is getting 1.5 points in almost every book against Philadelphia. Some of that is because the Eagles are viewed as the more complete team. Some of it is because of the unknown nature of Mahomes’ ankle, making some wonder if he’ll be able to withstand the pressure of Philly’s front four, which helped the Eagles lead the league with 70 sacks during the regular season.
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If Mahomes is able to move around and evade the rush, the Chiefs seem a good bet to hoist their second Lombardi Trophy in four years. If he’s immobile, the path to winning another title becomes much more difficult, with Haason Reddick and Brandon Graham screaming in towards a stationary target.
Ultimately, how heeled Mahomes’ ankle is come Sunday night might well determine who walks away the champ, and who goes home wondering what could have been.
If Mahomes is right, there’s nobody on earth capable of matching him. But if he’s limited in his powers, he’s suddenly a mere mortal, something he’s not accustomed to being.
