“The [Philadelphia] Eagles are signing QB Ian Book to the practice squad following his visit yesterday, sources say,” NFL Network insider Mike Garafolo reported on Thursday of Week 17.

“Jalen Hurts (concussion) was listed as DNP [did not practice] on yesterday’s projected practice report while Kenny Pickett (ribs) was limited,” Garafolo explained. “Tanner McKee and Book now also available.”

Book spent the 2024 training camp and preseason period with the Chiefs, competing with Chris Oladokun for the third quarterback role in Kansas City. In the end, KC elected to move on from both players in favor of available former fourth-round talent Bailey Zappe.

Unfortunately, Zappe was later poached off the Chiefs’ practice squad by the Cleveland Browns. KC has since re-signed Oladokun as their QB3.

Ex-Chiefs QB Ian Book Reunites With Eagles Ahead of NFL Playoffs

There’s a reason the Eagles chose to sign Book as quarterback insurance, rather than someone else. The former 2021 fourth rounder of the New Orleans Saints spent some time in Philadelphia from 2022 through 2023.

That gives him some familiarity with Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni and his offensive system.

Book has not appeared in a regular season NFL game since his rookie campaign with the Saints in 2021. Although he has earned some looks during the preseason.

With the Eagles in 2023, Book completed 63.2% of passes for 91 yards and zero touchdowns or interceptions. He was sacked 3 times.

Statistically speaking, Book performed better with the Chiefs this summer. Over three preseason outings, the former Notre Dame signal-caller completed 72.7% of passes for 133 yards and 2 touchdowns. He did not throw any interceptions.

Sacks were Book’s major issue with Kansas City, as he took 5 of them in limited action. The fourth-year pro also fumbled twice with the Chiefs, losing one of them to the opposition.

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes Is Getting Everyone Involved Again in 2024

As he has in recent seasons, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is distributing the ball with great variety as the 2024 campaign comes to a close.

On Christmas Day, eight different KC pass-catchers caught the ball as Mahomes threw for 320 yards and 3 touchdowns with an elite total QBR rating of 90.1 out of 100.

Travis Kelce and Xavier Worthy led the way with 8 receptions each, but Hollywood Brown (4), Justin Watson (2), Samaje Perine (2), JuJu Smith-Schuster (2), DeAndre Hopkins (2) and Noah Gray (1) all got on the board as well.

And according to A-to-Z Sports Kansas City reporter Charles Goldman, there are signs that the best is still yet to come.

“The offense was cooking against the [Pittsburgh] Steelers in Week 17, but they haven’t quite yet reached their final form,” Goldman wrote on December 26.

“You can tell that by the wide receiver snap splits,” he reasoned. “Players like DeAndre Hopkins and Hollywood Brown each were on the field for less than 50% of the team’s offensive snaps. Yes, Kansas City has a lot of snaps to go around at skill positions, but it feels like they’re also holding back from opening the offense up and keeping their best weapons on the field as much as possible.”

“Xavier Worthy and JuJu Smith-Schuster played the most snaps among wide receivers this week,” Goldman went on. He concluded that “I won’t be shocked if we see Hopkins and Brown up there once the playoffs roll around.”

Mahomes agreed that the offense is finally hitting its stride after Week 17. Perhaps, the Chiefs still have a trick or two up their sleeve ahead of the playoffs.

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“Joe thuney……. A F***ing Dawgggggg,” Jones wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

In the 29-10 win over Pittsburgh, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was sacked zero times, which was just the third time this season that Mahomes finished a game without being sacked.

It’s no coincidence that Kansas City has been able to protect Mahomes better since D.J. Humphries (hamstring) went down with an injury in Week 14 and Thuney replaced him at left tackle. In the two games before Christmas Day’s victory, Thuney surrendered just three QB hits and zero sacks as the team’s starting LT, per PFF.

The starting lineup of Thuney, Mike Caliendo, Creed Humphrey, Trey Smith, and Jawaan Taylor has proven to be the Chiefs’ most effective offensive line grouping this season. Because of that, the team should strongly consider keeping Humphries on the bench and Thuney at left tackle for the remainder of the season even when Humphries is healthy enough to return.

Chiefs Find Offensive Footing in Win Over Steelers

Heading into Week 17, the Steelers defense was allowing the seventh-fewest points per game this season, according to Team Ranking. Despite that, Kansas City’s offense displayed how it is rounding into form by scoring 29 points against a tough AFC opponent on the road.

Mahomes had his best performance of the season by completing 29-of-38 pass attempts for 320 yards and three touchdowns. His leading receiver was tight end Travis Kelce, who had a team-high 11 targets and caught eight of them for 84 yards and one touchdown.

Kansas City’s leading rusher was running back Kareem Hunt, who had a team-high nine carries for 20 yards — 2.2 yards per carry — and one touchdown.

Without Jones (calf) in the lineup, the Chiefs’ defense bottled up the Steelers offense. The unit sacked Pittsburgh QB Russell Wilson five times, forced two turnovers (interception, forced fumble), and allowed the Steelers to score on just 1-of-4 red zone trips, per ESPN.

With the win, the Chiefs clinched the No. 1 seed in the AFC, which means they will have a bye week during the first round of the playoffs as well as home-field advantage throughout the postseason.

X Users Reacted to Joe Thuney’s Christmas Day Performance

X users reacted to Thuney’s performance on Christmas Day.

“Shoutout to Joe Thuney: Best Tackle and Guard on the team,” one person wrote. “If this team 3 peats he will be a huge reason why. That man’s name will be in the ring of honor one day. Been worth every cent.”

“Joe Thuney moved to LT and has lined-up against Myles Garrett, TJ Watt, Alex Highsmith, Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson over the last 3 games, and the Chiefs went 3-0. Shout out to one of the most elite offensive linemen in the NFL,” another person wrote.

“What Joe Thuney and the rest of the Chiefs O-line has done to 3 of the top D-lines in the NFL in the past 10 days cannot be understated. Absolutely incredible work,” another person wrote. “Now I just ask that Andy Reid dials up a TD for Thuney in the playoffs at some point.”

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Swift wasn’t at the game, and there’s likely a good reason why she skipped the event.

Why Travis Kelce Didn’t See Taylor Swift at His Christmas Day Matchup With the Chiefs

It’s actually not surprising that Swift didn’t attend Kelce’s game. It’s known that Swift has to be very careful when it comes to her security. She’s one of the most famous singers in the world, and with that, comes the baggage of having people doing whatever they can to get close to her.

Swift has only been going to Kelce’s home games this season, and it’s believed to be because of security concerns. Last year’s Christmas Day game took place at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, so she was there. But, the 2025 Christmas Day game wasn’t.

In October, a source told Page Six that Swift was opting not to attend away Chiefs games this season because of the security risk. “She’s not going anywhere unless she knows the venue intimately, and it has been thoroughly scouted and secured in advance,” the source told Page Six.

So, don’t fret, because Swift skipping the game likely isn’t a reflection of her feelings to Kelce.

It’s also likely that Swift is still getting some time with Kelce over the holidays. In a December 3 feature, a source told Us Weekly that Swift planned to host both her and Kelce’s families. Since her massive Eras Tour has come to a conclusion, Swift is planning to enjoy some special time with Kelce for a while.

“Taylor plans to stay in and hibernate [with Travis] for a while,” the source told Us Weekly. “They want to do ‘normal things’ as a couple.” The insider also said the couple won’t get engaged over the holidays and that they would “love to be engaged” but “aren’t rushing it.” So, if you’re hoping to see Swift post a diamond ring on social media over the holidays, you might be disappointed.

Travis Kelce Has Been Shopping for Taylor Swift

In the same Us Weekly feature, a separate insider said that Swift like to take relationships slowly. “Taylor does feel like Travis is ‘The One,’ but jumping in is not her style,” the source said. “That’s just not how she does [things]. Marriage is a big deal, and she wants [it to be] forever.”

Even though Swift wasn’t at Kelce’s game, it sounds like the tight end wants to make this holiday together special. In a December 5 feature, a source told Page Six, “Although he’ll be playing on Christmas and has an away game the weekend of Taylor’s birthday, Travis is going to make sure to take time out to celebrate both occasions with her.” The insider also said that Kelce “has been shopping for Christmas and birthday gifts for Taylor for quite a while now.”

Kelce had a stellar game against the Steelers, catching 8 passes for 84 yards and a touchdown.

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“Yeah, I mean, [the 11-day stretch] showed the toughness of the team, and I think we got better as the games went on,” Mahomes said, following the Week 17 victory.

“The guys, they’re mentally tough and they’re physically tough,” the Chiefs QB went on. “And we played some really good football teams, some hard-fought battles, and the guys came away with three wins.”

He continued this message on the Chiefs trending upward after a follow-up question.

“Yeah, that’s what you want to do,” Mahomes responded, when asked if he feels KC is heating up at the right time.

“Obviously, we feel like we can continue to get better and better, but obviously we’re playing — especially offensively — our best football at the end of the year and getting guys healthy and we’re excited for it. We’re going to keep working. This isn’t the end, this is just the beginning, and we’ll continue to work to get even better as we go into the playoffs.”

Patrick Mahomes Says Hollywood Brown’s Return Has Made ‘Huge Impact’ on Chiefs Offense

Later, Mahomes added that the impact of Hollywood Brown’s return at wide receiver has helped the Chiefs offense come together at the right time.

“I think we’ve built up to the perfect spot,” the three-time Super Bowl champion explained. “We’ve gotten better and better before Hollywood got here. Xavier [Worthy] started playing better — being more confident. I’ve got a better chemistry with him. Other guys have stepped up, started making plays, and then it’s like you throw Hollywood in there and it kind of sets everybody perfectly in their roles.”

“You saw that today [against the Steelers],” Mahomes pointed out. “It seemed like we spread the ball around really well and guys made plays.”

The superstar QB concluded that “when you have that many weapons out there, it’s hard for defenses to account for and Hollywood’s made a huge impact on this offense.”

Chiefs Do Not Say If They Will Rest Patrick Mahomes & KC Starters in Week 18

After Week 17, Mahomes noted that clinching the No. 1 seed is “like winning a playoff game,” being that it comes with a first-round bye.

Having said that, Kansas City still has one game to play before their initial bye. And that outing will come Week 18 in Denver.

What’s unclear is whether or not Mahomes and the starters will be out there against the Broncos.

“We’ll see how Week 18 goes, and who plays and who doesn’t play — that’s up to coach,” Mahomes stated. “But even getting this little break, getting back healthy and then getting ourselves ready to go for the playoffs, it was super important especially with the guys that we have banged up.”

After a follow-up, the Chiefs signal-caller reiterated that it is completely up to Andy Reid on if he’s going to start — or take the field at all — for the final game. Mahomes did express that he will study and prep for the Broncos as he typically would, being that they could make the playoffs and theoretically face KC a third time this winter.

“I have full trust in Coach Reid,” Mahomes added. “He knows what he’s doing, and he’s done it for a long time.”

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Jones has yet to practice this week as of December 23, and although head coach Andy Reid noted that the integral defender is making improvements, he also stressed that it’s a very quick turnaround for his team in Week 17. Currently, that leaves Jones with a “questionable” outlook heading into Christmas Eve.

Despite that, Jones shared the following message with X followers on the evening of December 23.

“Thank you God!” He wrote — perhaps in the spirit of the holidays or perhaps in relation to his injury.

Either way, the thankful but cryptic post caught the attention of Chiefs Kingdom, as Jones’ message accumulated over 4.4K likes and a whole lot of comments in about 15 hours.

“Yes sir, hope your calf is healing up,” one fan responded. “Don’t rush it [No.] 95, get healthy, your brothers will stand in and get job done if you cannot.”

Another said: “Get some rest 👑. Come back strong for the playoffs.”

And a third agreed: “Amen! But you take it easy now, hear? Need you for years, not just months!”

Others wished Jones a “Merry Christmas” or seconded his holy message, but few urged the game wrecker to play on a bad calf, if any. Calf strains are always precarious injuries for older athletes because they are sometimes the precursor to a torn Achilles.

At age 30, that unfortunately puts Jones in an area of concern — especially on three days’ rest from Saturday to Wednesday. We’ll see if caution wins out for Jones against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Chris Jones’ Position Puts Extra Strain on the Calf

It’s not just Jones’ age that the KC medical staff has to account for, it’s also his position.

Pass rushers always reference an NFL term called “get-off.” This term represents how quickly a defensive lineman gets himself out of his stance and off the line of scrimmage as the ball is snapped. Typically, the faster the get-off, the better the pass rusher.

Unfortunately, get-off puts added strain and pressure on an athlete’s calf. It’s part of why a torn Achilles can be very difficult to overcome for players at this position.

For example, after signing a $45 million contract with the New York Jets in 2021, defensive end Carl Lawson ruptured his Achilles tendon. He returned in 2022 after missing the entire 2021 campaign, but his pressure rate regressed a bit according to Pro Football Focus.

By 2023, he was a healthy scratch more often than not.

The Achilles injury was a big reason for that, as Lawson’s get-off took some time to get back to where it was pre-injury. Now, in 2024, the veteran pass rusher is having a slight 5-sack resurgence with the Dallas Cowboys, but his pressure rate is still way down from where it was during his final season with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2020.

A cautionary tale for the Chiefs and Jones.

Chiefs RT Jawaan Taylor ‘Limited’ on Monday

Along with Jones, Chiefs nickelback Chamarri Conner (concussion) and veteran offensive tackle D.J. Humphries (hamstring) both missed each of the first two practices of Week 17. There was a fourth injury issue that continued on December 23, however.

For two straight practices, Chiefs right tackle Jawaan Taylor has been “limited” with a knee strain.

It’s possible that Kansas City is just giving Taylor a lighter workload with the short week, but this is something to watch as we lead up to kickoff. Especially when you consider the Chiefs’ 2024 issues at offensive tackle and Patrick Mahomes’ recent ankle injury.

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“We have signed TE Robert Tonyan to the Practice Squad,” the team relayed on December 23.

Tonyan first made a name for himself with the Green Bay Packers, joining the organization as an undrafted free agent in 2018. Slowly but surely, he carved out a role for himself inside an offense led by future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Over the course of his five seasons in Green Bay, Tonyan racked up 1,437 receiving yards in 68 regular season appearances (18 starts). The 6-foot-5 target also developed into a solid red zone threat for Rodgers, scoring 17 touchdowns with the Packers.

Tonyan’s breakout campaign came in 2020, when he posted a career-high 586 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns.

He spent the 2023 season with the Chicago Bears and parts of this year with the Minnesota Vikings, but Tonyan has yet to recapture his Packers magic as an offensive playmaker since parting ways with both Rodgers and the NFC North franchise.

As for playoff experience, Tonyan does have some. Over four postseason appearances with Green Bay, the tight end registered 8 catches for 82 yards and 1 touchdown.

Robert Tonyan Signing Supports Chiefs Tight End Room That Has Been Ravaged by Injuries

Tonyan should help bolster the KC tight end room, which has been devastated by injuries in 2024.

Most recently, undrafted rookie Baylor Cupp was placed on the practice squad injured list for the second time this season, leaving only veteran Anthony Firkser inside the organization behind Travis Kelce and Noah Gray — and the Chiefs just used up Firkser’s final practice squad elevation in Week 16.

Of course, Kansas City could elect to sign Firkser to the 53-man roster so that he’s available to them against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but now they have another option — or two.

Reserve tight end Peyton Hendershot was also designated to return to practice on December 23. Although it’s unclear if Hendershot would be ready to play on Wednesday.

As for Tonyan, while it typically takes new additions some time to get up to speed with head coach Andy Reid’s offensive system and playbook, it’s possible the veteran newcomer gets a trial-by-fire audition on Christmas Day. The Chiefs have consistently elevated a third tight end from the practice squad over the past several weeks, so expect either Firkser, Tonyan or a healthy Hendershot to be activated versus the Steelers.

Potential Chiefs WR Target Diontae Johnson Claimed by Texans: Report

In other news, the Chiefs will not be claiming or signing former 1,000-yard wide receiver Diontae Johnson — who was linked to Kansas City by ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter.

On December 23, NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero reported that the Houston Texans have claimed Johnson off waivers ahead of Week 17. This comes on the heels of season-ending injuries to Texans star WRs Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell.

Johnson burst onto the NFL scene with the Steelers in 2019. A former third-round selection out of Toledo, Johnson accumulated 391 catches and 4,363 receiving yards in five regular-season campaigns. He also tallied 25 touchdowns.

Pittsburgh traded Johnson to the Carolina Panthers this offseason and his career has gone off the rails since then. After struggling in Carolina, the veteran was traded once again, this time to the Baltimore Ravens.

That didn’t work out either, however, as Johnson was eventually suspended by the Ravens for refusing to play in a game.

Johnson is a talented playmaker, but trouble has followed him wherever he’s gone. Perhaps, the Chiefs are better off “missing out” on this potential waiver claim — especially with Hollywood Brown returning at wide receiver in Week 16.

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Though Hendershot likely won’t be activated in time for Kansas City’s Christmas Day game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, his return will be a welcomed addition whenever it may occur.

Tight ends Jared Wiley (torn ACL), Jody Fortson (torn ACL), and Baylor Cupp (undisclosed) are all on IR, which means Kansas City’s only healthy tight ends are Travis Kelce, Noah Gray, and Anthony Firkser. Because Kelce and Gray play a majority of the Chiefs’ offensive snaps, Firkser is the team’s only reserve tight end. The return of Hendershot will give the two-time defending Super Bowl champions some added insurance in case injuries begin to plague the TE room.

In five games played this season, Hendershot registered three catches on as many targets for 26 yards. He played 10% of the team’s total offensive snaps in those games as well as 45% of the special teams snaps, according to Pro Football Reference.

Hendershot will have a spot ready for him on the active roster whenever he’s available to return due to the team placing linebacker Jack Cochrane (fractured ankle) on IR on December 23.

Chiefs HC Andy Reid Speaks Highly of Hollywood Brown After Debut

Week 16 marked the regular season Chiefs debut for veteran receiver Hollywood Brown, who had been sidelined since the preseason due to an injury to his SC joint.

In the win over the Houston Texans, Brown caught five passes on eight targets for 45 yards while playing just 20% of the team’s offensive snaps.

Speaking to the media on December 23, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid gave his evaluation of Brown and his first game back since August.

“I thought he (Hollywood Brown) did a pretty good job,” Reid said during his press conference. “He didn’t have a ton of snaps. We’ll keep increasing that as we go. I thought for the snaps he had, I thought he played pretty good football. Also, he got to take a hit. That’s always the — when you have that upper body injury just getting that first hit is a big thing.”

Patrick Mahomes Discusses Having Hollywood Brown and Xavier Worthy in Lineup Together

Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes also spoke on Monday and detailed the impact of Brown being back in the lineup.

“Yeah, I think you’re just trying to see kind of what this offense was meant to be,” Mahomes said. “Obviously, we don’t have Rashee (Rice) out there but having some other guys [that] we’ve added to try to fill that role as best as we can. You can see where we thought we were going to be at the beginning of the year. Obviously, we have to ramp it up fast against some really good teams, but I thought it was a great start having Hollywood out there for a limited number of snaps and him making an impact on the game and Xavier (Worthy) and everybody. That was a good defense [that] we went up against. It’ll be another challenge this week – can we build on that and build some momentum into the playoffs.”

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On Saturday, December 21, Nicole took to her Instagram stories to express her support for Bronny with a flattering post.

Travis Kelce’s Ex, Kayla Nicole, Calls Out Bronny Haters

On her Instagram story, Travis Kelce’s ex shared a photo of Bronny with the caption, “y’all ain’t talkin bout nothing.” Nicole’s words likely refer to the ongoing trash talk about Bronny not being fit to play in the pros, stemming from him being James’ son. While being James’ son may seem like a gift for someone who wants to play in the NBA, having Bronny’s father be the great LeBron James has brought skepticism that perhaps he skipped some hoops to make it into the pros.

The Los Angeles Lakers selected Bronny as the 55th pick in this year’s draft. During this season, he’s been assigned to the South Bay Lakers a handful of times. His last appearance with the G League has been his best yet, and since December 7, he’s averaging 16.8 points per game on 41.3 percent shooting. So, if he keeps these solid numbers up, Bronny may be able to convince some doubters that he’s the real deal. Either way, it sounds like Nicole is on team Bronny.

‘It’s Okay to Fail’

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Jones has to practice in some capacity on Tuesday if he wants to play in Kansas City’s Christmas Day game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday. But even if he practices in a limited capacity on Tuesday, that doesn’t guarantee he will be healthy enough to play just four days after suffering the injury.

Playing against a 10-5 Steelers squad on a short week means the Chiefs need all the help they can get on Christmas. But the team doesn’t want to risk re-injuring Jones by putting him back on the field if he isn’t fully healthy.

If the team is without Jones, then Kansas City’s defense could struggle to generate pressure and stop a Pittsburgh run game that ranks second in the NFL in rush attempts (479), per NFL.com.

If Jones is unable to play, the Chiefs will rely on Tershawn Wharton as well as depth pieces such as Mike Pennel and Derrick Nnadi to fill the void left by Jones. Charles Omenihu, who has primarily been an edge rusher but has mixed in at DT since returning in Week 13, could also see an increase in snaps along the defensive interior as well if Jones misses Week 17.

Andy Reid Gives Update on D.J. Humphries, Chamarri Conner

Along with his update on Jones, Reid shared that neither offensive tackle D.J. Humphries (hamstring) nor defensive back Chamarri Conner (concussion protocol) would practice on Monday either.

Humphries, who started at left tackle for Kansas City in Week 14, missed the team’s last two games due to the hamstring injury. Conner suffered a concussion in Week 15 and missed the team’s Week 16 win over the Texans.

If Humphries is unable to suit up for a third straight game, the Chiefs will likely continue playing starting left guard Joe Thuney at left tackle and have backup Mike Caliendo start at left guard.

As for some positive injury news, starting right tackle Jawaan Taylor, who suffered a knee strain on Saturday, will practice in a limited capacity for a second straight day, per Reid. That puts him on track to be in the lineup for Week 17.

Kansas City’s Christmas Day game against the Steelers will kick off at noon Central Time and will be available to watch on Netflix.

X Users Chat About Chiefs Ahead of Christmas Day Game

Users on X, formerly Twitter, chatted about the Chiefs ahead of their Week 17 matchup against the Steelers.

“Andy Reid deserves some credit after taking heat the last few weeks. He showed a willingness [against the Texans] to make adjustments as the game progressed,” one person wrote. “He leaned on the run at the end when they had to have it and played the hot hand in Kareem Hunt after [Isiah] Pacheco was struggling to get tough yards.”

“Would be shocked if the Chiefs don’t sit Chris Jones this week,” another person wrote. “Would be a big loss but the rest outweighs the risk. It’s very different than the Mahomes injury as his was a joint injury and CJ95 is muscle.”

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But the fact that feats like these are beginning to be viewed as typical when it comes to Mahomes actually takes away from their brilliance. After the game, his wife Brittany Mahomes reminded everyone how difficult the past week has been for her husband, posting a loving message on Instagram.

“Feeling that Win a little extra today👏🏼👏🏼,” Brittany wrote. She then addressed her husband, who wears the jersey No. 15, voicing: “15 we are proud of you🥹❤️.”

To be clear, Brittany Mahomes generally posts photos of her viewing party and outfit after every Chiefs outing, so that’s nothing new. But — at least throughout the 2024 campaign — her captions are usually far more simple and conservative.

This weekend, considering everything Patrick Mahomes has battled and worked through over the past week, she chose to send a very public message saying how “proud” his family is of him. She even noted that this victory meant “a little extra” to them.

Patrick Mahomes also echoed this sentiment with a very appreciate social media message after beating the Texans.

Brittany’s post was well-received by fans, with over 127,000 likes in less than 24 hours.

Brittany Mahomes Shares Precious Video of Daughter Sterling Cheering on Patrick Mahomes at Chiefs Game

On her Instagram story, Brittany Mahomes also shared a precious moment of daughter Sterling Skye cheering on her father.

In the video, Sterling watches intently as her dad is announced on the jumbotron during pregame introductions. A big smile then flashes across her face as a cheering Brittany asks — “Who is it?”

Sterling begins clapping her little hands and smiling happily as she watches Patrick Mahomes run out onto the field on the jumbotron.

The Chiefs QB also reposted this video on his personal Instagram story.

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes Explains Why It Was So Important for Him to Play Through Injury vs. Texans

Brittany hinted that Week 16 meant a lot to the Mahomes family but during his postgame press conference, Patrick also explained why it was so important for him to be out there on December 21.

“I ask a lot from the guys around me,” the Chiefs superstar told reporters. “So, I feel like if I’m going to ask them to play through pain, if I’m going to ask them to play through little nicks and bruises and stuff like that, I gotta do it as well.”

“That’s something that I pride myself on is being out there with my guys and playing football,” Mahomes went on. “I’m not going to put us in position to be in a bad spot or lose a football game but if I feel like I can compete and win, I’m going to be out [on the field] in that football game.”

The Chiefs QB also shouted out his offensive line, noting that he asks them to battle through injuries over the course of the season, as well as tight end Noah Gray who “bounced back up” after an injury against the Texans according to Mahomes.

“You don’t make excuses in this league,” Mahomes stated in a no-nonsense type of way. “You go out and play football and you fight until the very end and try to get a win at the end of the day.”

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“Former Ravens WR Diontae Johnson is likely to be claimed on waivers Monday, per sources. Potential landing spots include but are not limited to the Chargers and Chiefs – if Johnson even makes it that far on waivers,” Schefter wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on December 21.

What to Know About Diontae Johnson

Johnson, 28, was a third-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2019. During his five seasons with the team, he registered 391 receptions, 4,363 yards, and 28 touchdowns in 77 games played, according to Pro Football Reference.

In March, the Steelers traded Johnson to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for cornerback Donte Jackson and a pick swap. The move happened because Johnson “was heading into the final year of his contract, he wasn’t going to be re-signed and he felt the Steelers’ quarterback situation wasn’t going to put him in the position to cash out on another contract next year,” per Steelers insider Mark Kaboly.

As the primary option in Carolina’s passing game, Johnson registered 30 receptions on 57 targets for 357 yards and three touchdowns in seven games played with the team this season, according to Pro Football Reference. A change at quarterback — the Panthers benched Bryce Young in favor of veteran Andy Dalton starting in Week 3 — provided a quick but not long-lasting boost for Johnson in terms of production, which left Johnson frustrated for the remainder of his time in Carolina.

After making his frustrations known publicly, Johnson was traded to the Ravens along with a sixth-round pick in exchange for a fifth-round pick on October 29.

Johnson began his Ravens tenure by playing 30% of the team’s offensive snaps in Week 9. But he played just 8%, 18%, and 9% of the team’s offensive snaps over the next three weeks respectively.

In Week 13, Johnson was asked by the Ravens coaching staff to enter the game after fellow wideout Rashod Bateman was injured. But Johnson refused to enter the game, which led to him being suspended in Week 14 for conduct detrimental to the team. He was sidelined for the team’s Week 14 win over the New York Giants as a result.

On Monday, December 16, the Ravens announced that the team and Johnson had mutually agreed to excuse him from team activities in Week 16. On December 20, the team announced that it had waived Johnson.

Johnson will go through waivers on Monday, December 23. If he goes through waivers unclaimed he will become a free agent and can choose his next destination.

Heavy on Chiefs detailed Johnson’s fit with the Chiefs on December 17.

X Users Reacted to Chiefs Being Named Potential Landing Spot for Diontae Johnson

Users on X reacted to Schefter naming the Chiefs as a potential landing spot for Johnson.

“With Hollywood Brown coming back, the Chiefs are good with WRs,” one person wrote. “I think they learned their lesson with [Kadarius] Toney. Chargers should go all-in. [Quentin] Johnston and [Joshua] Palmer are way too inconsistent. [Ladd] McConkey and Johnson would be nice!”

“Not surprising in the least. Johnson for all the insanity of the past few weeks is a very talented WR,” another person wrote. “A smart GM will want to take advantage of this situation and succeed where the #Ravens massively failed.”

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After overcoming the ankle injury to lead the Chiefs to their 14th victory of the season, Mahomes posted a simple but appreciative message on social media.

“Thank you God!” Mahomes voiced on X.

On Instagram, he shared a more typical message that Chiefs Kingdom has grown accustomed to, a “⏰” emoji. But he also included a slyly themed song playing in the background.

The song’s name? “HIM ALL ALONG,” by Gunna.

You won’t hear Mahomes talk much more trash than that following a win — even after a Texans defender gave him plenty of reason to. A subtle song title. A perfectly timed post.

Everyone is already well aware of Mahomes’ greatness at age 29. He doesn’t need to brag about his most recent feat on social media.

Patrick Mahomes Is ‘Motivated’ & Ready to Start at QB vs. Steelers in Week 17

The Chiefs have a quick turnaround after Week 16, as they only have three full days to prepare for a Christmas Day matchup versus the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Rest assured though, Mahomes will be ready to go in Pittsburgh. The Chiefs QB provided a full update on his ankle and how it was feeling after the game on December 21, and he also made it clear that he’ll be suiting up again on Wednesday.

“I think you’re motivated to play a great football team,” Mahomes told reporters, when asked if he’s motivated by the fact that KC can lock up the No. 1 seed versus the Steelers.

“To play in Pittsburgh — it’s a great environment, a great stadium [and] it’ll be rocking,” the superstar QB went on. “Playing on Christmas, so everybody is going to be watching.”

As for having less time to prep than usual, Mahomes trusted his head coach to get the Chiefs ready to go in time for Week 17.

“I think more than anything, it’s just getting off your feet when you can, but at the same time studying and getting the gameplan in,” he said. “Coach [Andy] Reid does a great job of it but we [also] knew this as it was part of our schedule from the beginning. Coach has prepared us so let’s go out there and play our best football.”

Patrick Mahomes Gets Surprise Visitor After Leading Chiefs to Victory Over Texans

When Mahomes stepped down from the podium after defeating the Texans, a surprise visitor was waiting for him. Just like that, the pain of playing on a high ankle sprain seemed to melt away.

KC Star beat reporter Vahe Gregorian shared a photo of the precious moment on X.

After leaving the podium, Mahomes grabbed his daughter, Sterling Skye, and held her up over his head — bad ankle and all. His wife, Brittany, stood nearby as well.

Sometimes all you need is the love of family, and everything else washes away. Especially when it’s your child cheering you on.

Mahomes and his wife currently have two children together, Sterling and Bronze, but they have a third child on the way. Surely, they help motivate the Chiefs QB every day.

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Having said that, with another key game versus the Pittsburgh Steelers just four days away on Christmas Day, Mahomes was asked about the status of his ankle following the gutsy performance.

“The stopping and cutting isn’t great yet,” Mahomes told reporters after the game, regarding his ankle. He added that he knew he could take off and run against the Texans if needed, but that it’s the “stopping” that’s hard on his ankle post-injury.

Fortunately, the Chiefs QB didn’t have to stop on his early 15-yard touchdown scramble in quarter one.

Mahomes also reiterated that he felt this current high ankle sprain was not nearly as bad as the playoff high ankle sprain that he played through earlier in his career.

“I felt like I was ahead of there [in my recovery this week],” he said. “That one, it kind of just hurt just to walk in general, whereas now I can kind of move around walking. Now it’s just trying to get [my ankle] even better for this next game… [I’m] trying to get in a better spot so I can utilize my mobility and still be able to work within the pocket and outside as well.”

At the end of the presser, Mahomes concluded that he “did good enough” against the Texans, downplaying the incredible feat.

“You’re not going to feel great [after playing through injury],” he explained, “that’s kind of just what it is. You don’t make excuses in this league. You go out and play football and you fight until the very end and try to get a win at the end of the day.”

Patrick Mahomes Details When He Knew He Could Play in Week 16 — & Why It Was So Important to Do So

In terms of the decision to battle through injury and start against the Texans, it didn’t take long for Mahomes to figure out that he was going to give it a go.

“I think it was the second practice [of the week], the first practice was still kind of iffy but then the second practice and being able to move a little bit and do some of the under-center stuff, I knew I was going to have a good chance [to start],” Mahomes shared. “I was able to move enough in the movements. We go under center to run the football, so I felt confident that the [offensive] line was going to protect me… [and that] I could make some throws.”

As for why it was so important for the Chiefs superstar to play in Week 16, his answer showed why Mahomes is such a great leader.

“I ask a lot from the guys around me,” he replied. “So, I feel like if I’m going to ask them to play through pain, if I’m going to ask them to play through little nicks and bruises and stuff like that, I gotta do it as well.”

“That’s something that I pride myself on is being out there with my guys and playing football,” Mahomes continued. “I’m not going to put us in position to be in a bad spot or lose a football game but if I feel like I can compete and win, I’m going to be out [on the field] in that football game.”

It’s funny to think of a high ankle sprain as a little “nick” or “bruise,” but that’s Patrick Mahomes in a nutshell! Needless to say, the Chiefs signal-caller was phenomenal as ever versus the Texans.

Chiefs HC Andy Reid Praises Patrick Mahomes’ Mindset After Week 15 Ankle Injury

Determination. That’s what it takes to overcome adversity and that’s also one of Mahomes’ top traits as a player and person.

“[Mahomes] spoils the dog out of us,” Chiefs head coach Andy Reid joked during his postgame press conference. “He’s so tough mentally and physically, so you just get used to it… Most guys don’t come back from that like he did.”

The future Hall of Fame coach added that once Mahomes “set his mind to [playing],” he immediately “jumped in that training room and stayed in there.”

Reid also praised Mahomes’ “mindset” earlier in the Q&A.

“I didn’t think [Mahomes would] be able to get out and run like that,” he admitted. “He did a great job with all that. He had that mindset right from the get-go that he was going to be out there and going. He didn’t miss a beat — he practiced every rep.”

At the end of the day, determined might be the best way to describe Mahomes. It’s also no coincidence that it could be the best way to describe the Chiefs.

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Reid announced that linebacker Jack Cochrane suffered a fractured ankle, defensive tackle Chris Jones suffered a strained calf, and starting right tackle Jawaan Taylor suffered a strained knee.

In the fourth quarter of Saturday’s Chiefs victory, defensive tackle Jones went down with the calf injury. Several minutes after making his way toward the sideline under his own power, Jones was listed as questionable to return to the game and the team confirmed that he suffered a calf injury.

Houston had one more possession after the series in which Jones was injured, but Jones did not return to the game.

A fractured ankle for Cochrane — who is primarily a special teamer for Kansas City — likely means his season is over. As for Jones and Taylor, they won’t have much time to recover, as Kansas City’s Week 17 game will be a matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas Day.

Chiefs Defeat Texans 27-19 in Week 16

The two-time defending Super Bowl champions improved to 14-1 with the win over the Texans at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday.

Against Houston, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes completed 28-of-41 pass attempts for 260 yards and one touchdown. He also ran the ball five times for 33 yards and a touchdown.

Mahomes’s leading receiver was rookie wideout Xavier Worthy, who had a season-high 11 targets and seven receptions for 65 yards and one touchdown. Veteran running back Kareem Hunt led Kansas City’s backfield with 11 rushes or 55 yards — 5.0 yards per carry — and one touchdown.

The Chiefs defense rose to the occasion against Houston. The unit allowed 311 yards of total offense, sacked QB C.J. Stroud two times, and also intercepted him twice.

X Users Reacted to Chiefs’ Victory Over Texans

Users on X, formerly Twitter, reacted to Kansas City’s Week 16 victory over Houston.

“Big win for Chiefs and they looked good in all 4 phases of the game,” one person wrote. “Offense, Defense and Special Teams all did their part but the Refs really upped their game here, just in time for the postseason.”

“Handled business at home this year,” another person wrote. “Offense is adding pieces. Defense needs more consistency but beginning to look more like last season in spots. This team is becoming a real problem at the exact right time. Hopefully injuries aren’t too serious and we can continue to progress.”

“Chiefs Kingdom is 14-1 Mahomes looked great on his ankle with 260 passing yards and a TD to go with a rushing TD & 33 rushing yards,” another person wrote. “Offense looked great with Hollywood Brown back, Xavier Worthy is heating up too. Defense was great with 2 picks by [Trent] McDuffie & [Jaden] Hicks.”

“Amazing how teams suddenly can’t play football in the second half and make nothing but bad play decisions like they’re trying to lose,” another person wrote.

“So much fun listening to the jealous whiners who wish their team knew how to win,” another person wrote. “The cheaters are the ones getting flags thrown on them. Keep crying, it’s been a blast.”

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The No. 1 seed, the historic chance at three straight Super Bowl titles and the entire 2024 campaign itself could all go up in flames if Mahomes re-injures his ankle in Week 16. At the same time, Mahomes is a uniquely elite quarterback in part due to his fearlessness, determination, and sheer passion.

And the Chiefs are where they are in part because they’ve put their trust and faith in Mahomes in countless different scenarios like this one. So, is starting Mahomes worth the risk? With all that in mind, there really only is one answer. We’ll get to that after going through some Game Day basics.

Texans at Chiefs: The Basics

• Who: Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs.
• When: Saturday, December 21, Noon Central Time.
• Where: GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.
• TV and streaming: NBC; Peacock.
• Betting: Spread Chiefs -3.5, Moneyline Chiefs -180, Over/Under 41.5 (FanDuel Sportsbook).

What’s at Stake for the Chiefs

At this stage of the regular season, the Chiefs (13-1) are competing for the No. 1 overall seed in the AFC, which comes with a first-round playoff bye and home-field advantage throughout the entire conference portion of the NFL postseason.

• With a victory and a Buffalo Bills (11-3) loss, Kansas City would clinch the No. 1 seed.
• On the flip side, if the Chiefs were to lose in Week 16, along with a Buffalo win, their lead atop the AFC would shrink to one game with just two weeks remaining. The Bills hold the ever-important head-to-head tiebreaker over KC.

What’s at Stake for the Texans

The Texans have already clinched the AFC South and a playoff berth. As of now, they’re likely only playing for seeding and the potential of home-field advantage over a fellow division winner if they were to advance to round two of the NFL playoffs.

• At 9-5, the No. 1 seed has fallen out of reach for Houston, so there is no scenario where a head-to-head victory over the Chiefs gives them value in a potential tiebreaker with KC.
• Having said that, the Texans could still overtake the eventual winner of the AFC North — which is currently the Pittsburgh Steelers at 10-4 — or the Bills over the final three weeks of the regular season, giving them something to play for in Kansas City.

Heavy on Chiefs Game Day Rant: Sitting Patrick Mahomes Is the Cautious Thing to Do. But Caution Didn’t Turn the Chiefs Into a Dynasty

My take — and the subject of today’s Heavy on Chiefs Game Day Rant: The Chiefs should start Patrick Mahomes. 

Would it be smart to rest him? Probably. Would caution be the safer tactic in this instance? Undoubtedly, yes.

But it’s not in Mahomes’ nature to sit idly by when he knows that he is healthy enough to help his team try and clinch the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the AFC portion of the postseason, and it’s not in the Chiefs’ nature to doubt their superstar quarterback.

Remember, Kansas City has not become a dynasty by playing it safe. Fortune favors the bold, and the Chiefs have gotten bolder and bolder under the direction of head coach Andy Reid and general manager Brett Veach.

This regime drafted Mahomes — a collegiate gunslinger with elite traits and worrisome flaws — seemingly replacing a successful but limited Alex Smith, because they felt he was special. They traded star players like Tyreek Hill and L’Jarius Sneed when the rest of the football world questioned the potential fallout. And, more than any other organization, they have stressed the importance of putting their best possible roster on the field for every single NFL game.

Kansas City’s recent history is no accident or fluke. Their success has stemmed from decisions like these.

Since 2016, they’ve won three Lombardi trophies, four conference championships and nine straight AFC West divisions.

Yes, the Chiefs have already clinched the AFC West title again this year, but they have not clinched the No. 1 seed. With a difficult upcoming schedule on the road against the Steelers and Denver Broncos, you really can’t take anything for granted in this league.

And make no mistake, the first-round playoff bye and homefield advantage in a potential AFC championship game could be the difference between getting to and falling short of another Super Bowl appearance this winter.

Mahomes knows that. The Chiefs know that. And that’s why KC is throwing caution to the wind ahead of their final home game of the regular season.

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KSHB 41 beat reporter Nick Jacobs relayed the roster move on X, sharing a screenshot of Friday’s NFL transaction log. “TE Baylor Cupp is on the practice squad injured list,” he informed.

Cupp was just elevated as the third tight end in Week 14. He logged six offensive snaps according to Pro Football Focus, grading out as a 60.0 as a run blocker in a very limited sample size. The youngster also registered four snaps on special teams, earning a mark of 73.2 out of 100.

It’s unclear when Cupp suffered an injury and why he’s been transferred to the reserve list, but the Chiefs are back down to just three available tight ends inside the organization.

On the flip side, including Cupp, Kansas City has four tight ends that are unavailable due to injury. Peyton Hendershot and Cupp are currently on the practice squad injured list and Jody Fortson and drafted rookie Jared Wiley find themselves on the long-term injured reserve.

Chiefs Elevate TE Anthony Firkser & S Deon Bush From Practice Squad for Week 16

To no surprise, the Chiefs will be promoting their only other tight end outside of Travis Kelce and Noah Gray in Week 16. Jacobs reported on the practice squad elevations as well, noting that “the Chiefs have elevated S Deon Bush and TE Anthony Firkser.”

This is the third time that KC has elevated Firkser, meaning they’ll have to sign him to the 53-man roster if they want to play him on Christmas Day. The veteran blocking tight end is mostly deployed in the run game, with five snaps as a run blocker compared to nine overall.

The Chiefs also utilize him on special teams, although Firkser has only logged snaps on kick return and kick return coverage since joining Kansas City.

Similar to Firkser, Bush is being promoted in order to help account for injuries.

The veteran special teams ace and long-time KC reserve will also help on coordinator Dave Toub’s ST units, but it is Chamarri Conner’s concussion that makes him a necessary elevation this week. With Conner ruled out, Bush will presumably slot in behind safeties Justin Reid, Bryan Cook, and rookies Jaden Hicks and Christian Roland-Wallace in the secondary.

Chiefs Officially Activate WR Hollywood Brown as LB Leo Chenal Pops up on Week 16 Injury Report

The fourth and final roster move on December 20 was the official activation of long-lost wide receiver signing Marquise “Hollywood” Brown.

NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reported the news just after 4 p.m. (CST), but FOX Sports NFL insider Jordan Schultz actually broke the story earlier in the afternoon. Brown’s activation also showed up on the NFL transaction log next to the practice squad elevations.

There is one potential situation to watch heading into the Saturday contest.

Linebacker Leo Chenal was a last-minute addition on the Chiefs’ injury report on December 20. He is now considered “questionable” to play with an “illness.”

We’ll have to wait until Kansas City reveals their gameday inactives to find out if Chenal is healthy enough to go against the Houston Texans.

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According to ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter, “[the] Texans are signing TE Irv Smith to their active roster [on December 20] ahead of Saturday’s game vs. Kansas City.”

With rookie tight end Cade Stover ruled out after an emergency appendectomy last weekend, this roster promotion makes sense for two reasons.

One, Smith gives the Texans more depth at tight end behind starter Dalton Schultz. And two, it sets Smith up for a little opportunity at revenge.

The Chiefs released Smith at the 53-man roster cutdown in August. He had been competing with players like Noah Gray and rookie Jared Wiley for a role within the KC tight end room.

Kansas City also toyed with the idea of keeping Smith as a fourth tight end but eventually elected to replace him via a last-minute trade with Dallas Cowboys for Peyton Hendershot.

While Smith faced an uphill battle to make the Chiefs’ 53-man roster in the first place, the Hendershot deal proved that KC had enough space for the veteran but instead decided to go in a different direction.

Chiefs Could Potentially Use Irv Smith Jr. With All Their 2024 Injuries at Tight End

Ironically, the Chiefs could actually use Smith now more than ever. The majority of the tight end room has been decimated by injuries this season, leaving just Gray and superstar Travis Kelce on the active roster.

Kansas City has actually elevated one of veteran Anthony Firkser or undrafted rookie Baylor Cupp from the practice squad in each of the past three weeks to account for their lack of depth at the position.

Having said that, if the Chiefs really wanted Smith back, they could have attempted to poach him off the Texans’ practice squad in recent weeks — before his recent promotion to the active roster.

Houston has called upon Smith twice in 2024 according to Pro Football Focus. His first appearance came in Week 13, but he was also elevated last weekend against the Miami Dolphins.

Smith has been deployed on 40 offensive snaps for the Texans, along with another 9 snaps on special teams. PFF has graded his overall offensive impact as a 49.2 in 2024, with zero catches and a 53.1 mark as a run blocker.

Chiefs WR Hollywood Brown Set to Debut in Week 16

As anticipated, the Chiefs officially activated wide receiver Hollywood Brown on December 20, just before the Week 16 outing against the Texans. NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reported the news just after 4 p.m. (CST), but FOX Sports NFL insider Jordan Schultz actually broke the story earlier in the afternoon.

Brown will join quarterback Patrick Mahomes on the field for the first time since KC’s initial preseason outing, and both have obviously had to overcome injuries to get to this point.

For Mahomes, it took a lightning-fast recovery from a high ankle sprain, while Brown’s comeback has been a much slower grind.

Although Mahomes and Brown are both “in” on Saturday, left tackle D.J. Humphries (hamstring) and versatile defensive back Chamarri Conner (concussion) were both ruled “out” on December 19. This wasn’t really much of a surprise, as both players didn’t practice at all throughout the week.

Finally, linebacker Leo Chenal was a late addition to the Chiefs’ injury report on December 20. He is now considered “questionable” to play with an “illness.”

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“Pat’s a little banged up, I don’t know whether he’s going to play or not. But I hope he’s mobile enough because we’re coming… Pat better make good decisions. I ain’t making no threats, I’m making promises,” Settle said on December 17, via Greg Bailey of KTRK.

Mahomes suffered a high-ankle sprain during Kansas City’s 21-7 win over the Cleveland Browns in Week 15. Though it’s not ideal considering the Chiefs are amidst a schedule crunch that includes three games in 11 days, James Palmer revealed on December 18 that the plan is for Mahomes to play on Saturday. That was confirmed by head coach Andy Reid during his media availability on Thursday.

Patrick Mahomes Will Push to Play vs Texans

Speaking to the media on December 17, Mahomes said he will try to push to play in Week 16, but he wouldn’t make a final decision on his status until it is necessary.

“Yeah, I think that you have to. That’s the reason you play this game is to push to play, so I’ll get the work in practice and try to push it to see where I can get to,” Mahomes said. “At the end of the day, I’m not going to put our team in a bad position, so if I feel like I can play and go out there and win a football game, I’ll play. If I don’t feel like that’s the best-case scenario, I’ll let guys like Carson (Wentz) play. I mean, he’s a guy that’s won in this league as well. It’s just about pushing it this week, seeing where I’m at, and making the best decision then.”

Kansas City’s Week 16 game against the Texans will take place on Saturday, December 21 at noon Central Time.

X Users React to Tim Settle Jr.’s Warning to Patrick Mahomes

Users on X, formerly Twitter, reacted to Settle’s warning to Mahomes.

“The amount of people, especially defensive lineman, who give Mahomes and the Chiefs billboard material has to be studied,” one person wrote. “Don’t get me wrong the Texans defense is good, but let’s not act like Mahomes hasn’t played against tougher defenses and won THIS YEAR.”

“That’s nice. Nothing like taunting Mahomes so he and the team get riled up,” another person wrote. “When are they going to learn to keep their mouths shut so as not to rile up Mahomes and passes for 400 yards and 3 TDs?”

“When you actually have to look the defensive player up to know who he is and realize he’s been in the league since 2018. I’m not putting too much behind what he has to say,” another person wrote.

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“Exclusive photos show their locker room lined with [Chiefs] red Yeti Tundra Haul wheeled coolers,” PEOPLE’s Angel Saunders reported on December 18. “The coolers retail for $425 each, though the brand offers a variety of shades and sizes.”

“Perfect for celebrating their 13-1 record for the 2024 season, the coolers are designed to fit 82 cans or 64 pounds of ice,” Saunders went on. “However, Mahomes chose to fill the coolers with neither ice nor drinks, but instead played Santa Claus by filling each cooler with designer presents.”

Photos of the gift packages within the PEOPLE article were comprised of several pricey items, including $999 Normatec Elite air compression leg attachments by Hyperice, Rolex watches with a starting price of $6,100, Lucchese leather boots with varying prices from approximately $800 to $3,500, Oakley sunglasses, WHOOP bands and products from Adidas’ Black Y-3 line.

PEOPLE added that “two lucky teammates appeared to also receive Louis Vuitton luggage.” They credited the exclusive photos of the custom Christmas gifts to the “Kansas City Chiefs.”

Later, the Chiefs confirmed this story, posting a photo of the OL gifts on X.

Kansas City Chiefs on XThe Chiefs shared a photo of one of Patrick Mahomes’ 2024 Christmas bundles on X.

Patrick Mahomes’ Various Brand Endorsements Come in Handy as Gifts for Chiefs Teammates

The diehard Mahomes fans out there may be reading this and thinking, aren’t a lot of those presents from companies that the Chiefs QB represents as a brand ambassador? The answer is yes.

Mahomes is either reported to be invested in or has signed endorsement deals with Oakley, Hyperice, WHOOP, Adidas and potentially more of the companies that were involved in this year’s Christmas bundle.

But that doesn’t take away from the overall value of these gifts and the thoughtfulness of the Chiefs QB. Mahomes is invested in a lot of these companies for a reason.

Hyperice’s Normatec Elite compression leg attachments are described as “the pinnacle of recovery” — which shows that Mahomes has put some thought into preserving the long-term health of his teammates.

WHOOP bands help monitor and track things like sleep patterns, stress levels, heart rate and overall health and recovery.

And, of course, leather cowboy boots match the midwestern style of guys like Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith.

Mahomes knows his audience, and that’s because he knows and cares about his teammates. For a rookie offensive lineman like Kingsley Suamataia or a former undrafted prospect like Mike Caliendo, these gifts probably mean a lot — endorsement deal or not.

Chiefs Set to Release a Christmas Claymation Original Short Titled ‘A Kingdom Christmas Story: Hail Merry’

Continuing in the spirit of the holiday season, the Chiefs announced that they are releasing a “Christmas Claymation original short” on December 17. The title will be: “A Kingdom Christmas Story: Hail Merry.”

Pegged as “an original, engaging and heartwarming silent scripted Claymation short,” this holiday special “will debut on the Chiefs YouTube Channel and Chiefs official social channels on Tuesday, December 24, ahead of the team’s NFL Christmas Day game streaming live on Netflix.”

Included will be Claymation versions of head coach Andy Reid, QB Patrick Mahomes, TE Travis Kelce, DL Chris Jones, RB Isiah Pacheco, DE George Karlaftis and CB Trent McDuffie, per the Chiefs.

The short tells a story of “a busy family” during the Christmas season.

“Along with the delightfully unexpected bounce of a football,” the Chiefs Claymation characters “save Christmas by bringing a busy family together around a Chiefs game, empowering all to believe in their dreams and the magic of the season,” the KC organization teased.

They noted that the 90-second Claymation original short will premiere on Christmas Eve at 6 p.m. (CST).

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“The Dolphins could find themselves in need of receivers next week,” Bleacher Report analyst Alex Ballentine noted on December 16. “Dee Eskridge was ruled out before [Week 15], Jaylen Waddle left with a knee injury and Grant DuBose was carted off the field after a hit to the head.”

He went on to add that “the Dolphins have a few options on their own practice squad, but none quite as intriguing as Tyquan Thornton.”

“The speedster is currently practicing with the Kansas City Chiefs, but it would be fun to see if [Dolphins head coach] Mike McDaniel could do anything with him in the final weeks of the season,” Ballentine wrote, suggesting that Miami sign Thornton off the KC practice squad as soon as this week, assuming their injuries persist at WR.

As of Wednesday, December 18, the Dolphins injury situation hasn’t gotten any better. DuBose is out indefinitely, joining Braxton Berrios, Tahj Washington and Anthony Schwartz on the injured reserve, while Waddle and Eskridge have already missed the first practice of the week.

That leaves Miami very shorthanded at the position, with rookie Malik Washington and veteran River Cracraft as the only healthy wide receivers behind Tyreek Hill.

As Ballentine mentioned, the Dolphins do have a few extra pass-catchers on their practice squad, but it would make sense to pursue another WR flyer in Thornton. At 6-8, the playoffs could be out of reach with one more loss. A Thornton signing might be able to help Miami avoid elimination, while also giving the organization a 24-year-old talent that could push for more of a role in 2025.

Tyquan Thornton Unlikely to See NFL Action With Chiefs in 2024 Once Hollywood Brown Returns

Veteran wideout Hollywood Brown is trending toward a Week 16 regular season debut with the Chiefs. The long-lost free agent signing logged his second straight full practice on December 18, and the expectation is that he could suit up for Kansas City on Saturday against the Houston Texans.

While that’s great news for the Chiefs, it’s likely somewhat disappointing for Thornton.

The former New England Patriots second rounder joined KC on November 18. At the time, the Chiefs’ WR corps was as injury-riddled as Miami’s, and there was a real chance that Thornton might eventually see opportunities catching passes from Patrick Mahomes.

That hasn’t materialized, however, partly because it takes incoming wide receivers a long time to learn Andy Reid’s offensive system and playbook, and partly because Kansas City has gotten healthier since his arrival.

JuJu Smith-Schuster returned from a multi-week absence not long after Thornton was acquired, and now Brown is back in the mix. The Chiefs did lose Mecole Hardman to the injured reserve in early December, but it was training camp standout Nikko Remigio who earned the call-up rather than Thornton because of his ability as a returner.

Despite a few long-term injuries, Kansas City’s active roster currently runs six-deep at wide receiver — assuming Brown takes the spot vacated by running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire. And that’s without counting practice squad competition like Justyn Ross and Montrell Washington.

With all these players in front of him, it’s hard to envision a world where Thornton gets his first appearance with the Chiefs in 2024.

Chiefs LT D.J. Humphries & DB Chamarri Conner Both in Danger of Missing Week 16

As mentioned above, Brown is on track to retake the field in Week 16, as is Mahomes — who’s working his way back from a high ankle sprain.

Two players are in danger of missing the Saturday matchup with the Texans though, left tackle D.J. Humphries and versatile defensive back Chamarri Conner.

Humphries did not play in Week 15 due to a hamstring injury. The same issue has forced him to miss the first two practices of Week 16.

If Humphries is unable to start this weekend, the Chiefs would presumably slide left guard Joe Thuney over to left tackle once again.

Conner left Week 15 with a concussion. After missing consecutive practices on Tuesday and Wednesday, it feels unlikely that Conner will return in time for Week 16.

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Chiefs head coach Andy Reid left the door open for their 2020 first-round pick to return. “We sure appreciated Clyde too, for all he did here,” Reid told reporters on December 17. “Love to get him back some time too… what a great kid he is.”

However, the next day, Edwards-Helaire signed with the New Orleans Saints‘ practice squad. After nearly five years with the Chiefs, the veteran running back is returning to Louisiana, and his wife, JoJo Edwards-Helaire, couldn’t be more thrilled.

@teniajojo/InstagramClyde Edwards-Helaire’s wife, JoJo Edwards Helaire, reacts to him signing with the Saints.

“💛🖤 I’m coming home👢,” JoJo posted on her Instagram Stories, sharing a photo of her husband’s big news. While the running back played with the LSU Tigers before entering the NFL, his wife earned her bachelor’s degree from Xavier University of Louisiana. She proudly posted about the occasion on Instagram on May 10, 2021.

She captioned the post, “Biology w/ minors in Chemistry & Women’s studies! Yes I did it in 4. Yes I did it on a full scholly. Yes I did it with honors. Yes I got an university award. Yes I think I know everything.& I’m going to get my MPH.”

Clyde Edwards-Helaire’s Wife Strongly Hinted That He Was Not Re-Signing With the Chiefs

Before his release was announced, CEH sent a personal goodbye message to Chiefs Kingdom. He posted on X, “Love ya KC! A family I didn’t know I needed, y’all made a Kid from Baton Rouge dreams come true! To Chiefs Kingdom , its all love and the support I had in troubling times will forever be unmatched from you guys! With love! ❤️ 💛 -Clydro ✌🏾.”

Between his heartfelt message and Reid speaking about a possible return, numerous fans and analysts thought Edwards-Helaire might re-sign to the practice squad. However, JoJo sent a pretty definitive goodbye message to Kansas City on Tuesday.

@teniajojo/instagramFormer Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire exits Kansas City.

She posted a video on her Instagram Stories of her husband heading to the airport. She wrote, “And just like that…” with a peace sign and kiss-face emoji.

While Edwards-Helaire registered a team-high 803 rushing yards in his rookie year, his production decreased every season thereafter. Despite permanently losing his starting role, he remained a fan favorite, and fans were happy to see him land back in New Orleans.

Clyde Edwards-Helaire Didn’t Appear in 1 Game With the Chiefs This Season

While the Chiefs clinched the AFC West title for the ninth straight season and at 13-1, hold the best record in the league, Edwards-Helaire could only cheer for his team from the sidelines. The 25-year-old was placed on the non-football illness (NFI) list in early September due to his ongoing battle with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Edwards-Helaire was activated off the NFI list but never returned to the lineup. Despite not suiting up, he and his wife supported the team in person.

The Chiefs’ decision to re-sign the veteran for the 2024 NFL season came as a surprise after Kansas City declined Edwards-Helaire’s $5.46 million fifth-year option. Edwards-Helaire re-joined the Chiefs on a one-year, $1.7 million contract.

Last season, CEH recorded just 70 rushes for 223 yards and 1 touchdown, along with 17 receptions for 188 yards and a score. In four playoff games, he registered 11 carries for 53 yards.

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On December 18, exactly two days after Edwards-Helaire bid KC farewell, New Orleans Saints beat reporter Nick Underhill relayed that “CEH” would be making his NOLA return.

As a reminder, Edwards-Helaire was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and he later burst onto NFL radars during his time at LSU. A Saints signing means a homecoming for the embattled running back, and maybe that’s the best thing for him at the moment.

It’s been an eye-opening season off the field for Edwards-Helaire, who revealed that he’s been suffering from symptoms caused by PTSD since 2018. The same symptoms caused the former LSU star to miss parts of training camp and the preseason — which led to him beginning the regular season on the injured reserve.

As for the Chiefs side in all this, it appears Edwards-Helaire will not re-sign to the practice squad after all. On December 17, head coach Andy Reid made it very clear that he’d “love” to get CEH back at some point in the future, but that’s going to have to wait.

For now, Edwards-Helaire will continue his football career back in the exact same place that it started, the Big Easy.

Ex-Chiefs RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire Will Begin on Saints Practice Squad: Report

This could just be procedural, as most veteran signings begin on the practice squad when they occur late in the season, but FOX Sports NFL insider Jordan Schultz did report that Edwards-Helaire will “start on” the Saints’ practice squad upon his arrival.

Having said that, it could also speak to the fact that Edwards-Helaire was ready for a new opportunity.

His role with the Chiefs had become nonexistent in 2024, following the emergence of undrafted rookie Carson Steele and veteran signings Samaje Perine and Kareem Hunt. That put him fourth on the KC depth chart before the return of starter Isiah Pacheco, which obviously pushed CEH even further down the list in Kansas City.

Needless to say, it was time for a change.

The Saints have superstar Alvin Kamara leading their backfield, but he’s a bit banged up heading into Week 16. Behind him, 2023 third rounder Kendre Miller and veteran Jamaal Williams handle most of the second- and third-string snaps at running back, but there appears to be a little more room for Edwards-Helaire to grow into a role in New Orleans.

Clyde Edwards-Helaire Leaves Chiefs on Good Terms

There appears to be a lot of love and appreciation between Edwards-Helaire and the Chiefs despite his release.

“Love ya KC!” Edwards-Helaire stated on X just before his release was reported around the league. “A family I didn’t know I needed, y’all made a Kid from Baton Rouge dreams come true! To Chiefs Kingdom , its all love and the support I had in troubling times will forever be unmatched from you guys! With love! ❤️ 💛 -Clydro ✌🏾.”

Similarly, Edwards-Helaire’s wife also reposted a message from a Chiefs supporter wishing the couple “nothing but the best” in their next chapter together. His wife, JoJo Edwards-Helaire, reacted with the emojis: “🥰😊.”

Clearly, Edwards-Helaire is leaving Kansas City on good terms. Although the Chiefs running back has had his ups and downs during his time with the organization, the fanbase has really rallied around him following his PTSD reveal.

There’s little doubt Chiefs Kingdom will be rooting for Edwards-Helaire to both succeed and find peace back home in New Orleans.

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“The expectation is that Patrick Mahomes (ankle) is going to try and give it a go Saturday,” Palmer wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on December 18. “Will he be 100%? obviously not. But the belief right now, and we’ll see how the rest of the week plays out, is that he’s going to play vs the #texans.”

Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes Talk About Mahomes’s Week 16 Status

When speaking to the media on December 17, Reid said he, Mahomes, and the training staff would have an open dialogue about Mahomes’s injury and how comfortable he feels playing through it before they decide his status for Week 16.

“Listen, if he (Patrick Mahomes) can go, he’ll go. If he can’t, then he can’t. Let’s keep it that simple. That’s how we’ll roll with it. Then, I’ll just take it day-by-day and see how he does here,” Reid said.

When Mahomes took to the podium on Tuesday he made it clear that he will try to play through the injury. But he wasn’t willing to commit to his status for Saturday’s game just yet.

“Yeah, I think that you have to. That’s the reason you play this game is to push to play, so I’ll get the work in practice and try to push it to see where I can get to,” Mahomes said. “At the end of the day, I’m not going to put our team in a bad position, so if I feel like I can play and go out there and win a football game, I’ll play. If I don’t feel like that’s the best-case scenario, I’ll let guys like Carson (Wentz) play. I mean, he’s a guy that’s won in this league as well. It’s just about pushing it this week, seeing where I’m at, and making the best decision then.”

X Users React to Patrick Mahomes Week 16 Update

Users on X reacted to Palmer’s update on Mahomes.

“Worth noting that the Chiefs left tackle position is very unsettled,” Seth Payne of Sports Radio 610 wrote. “[Joe] Thuney moved out there and is the 4th left tackle to play the spot this year. Mahomes wasn’t sacked last week, but was pressured on >50% of pass attempts

“I think he should rest. I know Patrick Mahomes (on one leg) is the first and second best QB in the league but we need this man healthy for this playoff push,” one person wrote.

“Makes sense, you need to try and win the Texans game so you hopefully aren’t leaving the fate of the one seed up to must wins for the last two games,” another person wrote.

“This would make sense. Timing of [Pittsburgh Steelers] game makes it hard to miss one and not the other. Could put them into only needing a win in week 18 to be the one seed…” another person wrote.

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The following afternoon on December 17, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid brought up Edwards-Helaire’s departure while speaking with reporters, and he had a brief candid message for the recent KC cut.

“We sure appreciated Clyde too, for all he did here,” Reid noted on Tuesday of Week 16. “Love to get him back sometime too… what a great kid he is.”

To be clear, this reaction was not very typical of Reid. For starters, the Chiefs HC never usually gets too deep into roster moves or public farewells in front of the media.

Secondly, Reid addressed Edwards-Helaire’s release on his own. He first referenced it after a question on the status of potential injury returnee Hollywood Brown and veteran CB signing Steven Nelson.

“You know, we released Clyde,” Reid said. “So, we have a spot available, [and] we’ve got these injuries that we’re juggling here, so we just got to see how that goes before we move somebody up or down, or whatever [general manager Brett] Veach wants to do.”

That statement led him straight into the message above.

Could RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire Re-Sign With Chiefs Practice Squad?

Based on Reid’s comments, it wouldn’t be surprising if Edwards-Helaire ended up back with the Kansas City practice squad before the end of the season. Having said that, whether he does or does not return is most likely up to “CEH” himself.

It’s been an eye-opening year for Edwards-Helaire off the field. The former first-round playmaker first revealed his ongoing battle with PTSD on July 29, after missing a couple of training camp practices with a mysterious illness.

“Living With PTSD is no small feat, its hard and very overwhelming,” Edwards-Helaire shared on X at the time. “Within the last month Ive Had many flare ups and the Amazing staff here at the Chiefs have been helping me get through some tough times. I’ll be back rolling next Practice! All Love, Glydro.”

Edwards-Helaire eventually opened up more and more about his struggles with PTSD as the summer went on, but he didn’t provide the full story behind the traumatic event that his condition stems from until November.

At that point, Edwards-Helaire joined “The Pivot Podcast” to give a full account of what happened back in 2018 — and his story was quite jarring and emotional.

Despite eventually being activated from the injured reserve, Edwards-Helaire has not appeared in a regular season game in 2024. Quite frankly, it’s unclear if he’s even ready to suit up for a grueling sport like football, both from a physical and mental standpoint.

If he is, and if he’d like to continue his NFL career, perhaps there’s a better opportunity somewhere on an active roster. Or maybe he prefers to reunite with KC at a later date.

Right now, no one seems to know what the future holds for the talented running back except CEH himself. His next move should help provide some clarity on his current condition.

Andy Reid Says Chiefs WR Hollywood Brown Has ‘Felt Good’ at Practice

Following his message to Edwards-Helaire, Reid was asked about Brown and how he’s being managing at practice in recent days.

“He felt good,” the Chiefs HC replied, regarding his long-lost wide receiver signing. “Moved around well. Took quite a few reps. It wasn’t a leg injury, so he’s been working his legs — he’s one of those real good endurance guys anyway. But he’s been working his legs throughout [practices].”

Reid added that it’s just a matter of keeping an eye on his shoulder and how it feels.

“The doctors have really said it’s healed up nice and looks good,” he concluded on Brown. “So, we’ll just see. I’m going to do just like you are, I’m going to play it by year and see how we do here. If he can go, he’ll play. If he can’t, he won’t.”

Reid offered a similar evaluation of quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ ankle ahead of Week 16. It goes without saying that Chiefs Kingdom will be anxious to see those two back on the field together sooner rather than later.

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“The Kansas City Chiefs are back-to-back champions and look capable of winning another this year, but they still could use help in the wide receiver room,” Peters wrote on December 16.

“The Chiefs got some help midseason when they traded for DeAndre Hopkins, but he’ll be a free agent this offseason and could opt to go somewhere else. Beyond Hopkins, Kansas City’s best options are an aging Travis Kelce and rookie receiver Xavier Worthy.

“Rashee Rice, who was Patrick Mahomes’ No. 1 option earlier this year, is out for the season.

“Adding Johnson this offseason would give Mahomes another solid target with plenty of experience as the Chiefs try to return to an elite offense.”

Diontae Johnson Amidst Botched Contract Year

Johnson, 28, was traded by the team that drafted him, the Pittsburgh Steelers, to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for cornerback Donte Jackson and a pick swap in March.

As the primary option in Carolina’s passing game, Johnson registered 30 receptions on 57 targets for 357 yards and three touchdowns in seven games played with the team, according to Pro Football Reference. A change at quarterback — the Panthers benched Bryce Young in favor of Andy Dalton starting in Week 3 — provided a quick but not long-lasting spark for Johnson in terms of production, which left Johnson frustrated for the remainder of his tenure in Carolina.

After making his frustrations known publicly regarding how he felt about the floundering Panthers, Johnson was traded to the Baltimore Ravens along with a sixth-round pick in exchange for a fifth-round pick.

Johnson began his Ravens tenure by playing 30% of the team’s offensive snaps in Week 9. But he played just 8%, 18%, and 9% of the team’s offensive snaps over the next three weeks respectively.

In Week 13, Johnson was asked by Baltimore’s coaching staff to enter the game after fellow wideout Rashod Bateman was injured. But Johnson refused to enter the game, which led to him being suspended in Week 14 for conduct detrimental to the team. He was sidelined for the team’s Week 14 win over the New York Giants as a result.

On Monday, December 16, the Ravens announced that the team and Johnson had mutually agreed to excuse him from team activities in Week 16.

Johnson is in the final year of the two-year, $36.7 million extension he signed with the Steelers in 2023.

Does Diontae Johnson Make Sense for WR-Needy Chiefs?

In 2025, the Chiefs are projected to be without receiver Hollywood Brown — a pending free agent — and Rice, whose recovery from knee surgery will likely bleed into the beginning of the 2025 season. Because of that, they could look to free agency to address the receiver room before they potentially add to it via the draft.

Before this season, an argument could have been made that Johnson was one of the best receivers that will be available in free agency in 2025, among the likes of Tee Higgins, Chris Godwin, and Amari Cooper. But based on how his 2024 campaign has played out thus far, Johnson has worked his way into a prove-it deal next offseason. He’s undoubtedly still a talented player, but his off-the-field antics could prove to be too noisy for many organizations.

If that’s how the market shapes out for Johnson, then it could be an advantageous situation for the Chiefs. If Johnson winds up receiving modest offers in free agency, one of which could be from Kansas City, then he might opt to choose the Chiefs’ offer because of their winning traditions. In that scenario, the two-time defending Super Bowl champions would add a talented pass catcher without having to break the bank.

Given his versatility on offense, Johnson would make a lot of sense as a free agent target for the Chiefs in 2025. But the team needs to know for sure that Johnson is someone they can rely on when the going gets tough and when the moment is big if they are going to bring him aboard.

According to Spotrac’s calculated market value, Johnson is worth a one-year, $9.5 million contract.

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Although Chiefs head coach Andy Reid did not confirm that Mahomes would start versus the Houston Texans while speaking with reporters on December 17, he did make it very clear that his quarterback will play so long as he’s medically cleared and able to do so.

“Listen, if [Mahomes] can go, he’ll go,” Reid responded very frankly on Tuesday — after being asked if the upcoming schedule will factor into the Mahomes decision.

Similarly, Reid noted that if Mahomes “can’t go, then he can’t.” He added that the decision is “that simple.”

“If your guys can play, they play,” Reid reiterated later. “As long as… medically, if they’re fine, they go.”

The Chiefs head coach also referred to Mahomes’ injury as a “day-to-day” issue multiple times on December 17, which differs from reports that he suffered a “week-to-week” injury. For clarity, week-to-week diagnoses typically represent a longer recovery timeline than day-to-day.

As for how he’ll know if his superstar QB is ready to play by the end of the week, Reid explained: “[Mahomes will] talk to me, the doctors will talk to me, trainers, we’ll keep it open.” He also joked that Mahomes is much more honest with him about his availability when they’re on the practice field together rather than inside of a game when adrenaline takes hold.

Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes Confirms He Will Not Push to Play If He’s Not Medically Cleared, Says Ankle Treatment Has Been ‘Good’ So Far

Mahomes spoke just after Reid on December 17, and he confirmed that if the Chiefs’ medical staff does not clear him by the end of the week, he will listen to them and sit out against the Texans.

Having said that, listening to Mahomes talk, it sounded like the two-time NFL MVP will do everything in his power to suit up on Saturday.

“I think [my ankle has] done good with the treatment and the work that we’ve gotten in,” the Chiefs QB said on Tuesday. “Obviously, it’s a short amount of time but I thought we had a good day yesterday and good work after the game as well.”

Mahomes also voiced that he will always “push to play” no matter the scenario. “I think that you have to, that’s the reason you play this game,” he reasoned.

On the flip side, Mahomes explained that he would be willing to sit if he feels his injury compromises his ability to help the team win.

“At the end of the day, I’m not going to put our team in a bad position,” he noted. “So, if I feel like I can play and go out there and win a football game, I’ll play. And if I don’t feel like that’s the best-case scenario, I’ll let guys like Carson [Wentz] play.”

There you have it. As Reid stated, if Mahomes is able, he’ll be out there versus Houston. If he’s inactive, however, fans will know that it’s not out of precaution.

Chiefs Estimated to Have ‘25% Drop in Offensive Efficiency’ If Carson Wentz Starts Instead of Patrick Mahomes

Pro Football Network (PFN365) did a deep dive into the statistical data that is available for Wentz versus Mahomes on December 16, then discussed how their findings could impact the race for the No. 1 seed in the AFC.

“Projecting how much worse the Chiefs’ offense might perform with Carson Wentz instead of Patrick Mahomes is an inexact science until it plays out on the field,” PFN365 wrote. “However, if we estimate a 25% drop in offensive efficiency, their win expectancy decreases by 8.4% against Houston and 9.7% against Pittsburgh.”

“Assuming Mahomes misses both games, the Chiefs’ chances of securing the #1 seed in the AFC drop from 77.2% to 73.6%,” the PFN staff continued. “Kansas City currently holds a two-game lead over Buffalo for the top seed, but the Bills own the head-to-head tiebreaker. The Chiefs need any combination of two wins and Bills losses to clinch the bye and home-field advantage in the postseason. Buffalo concludes the season with two games against the Patriots and a home game against the Jets, while the Chiefs play at Denver in Week 18 to close the regular season.”

They added that “over the last six seasons, Carson Wentz’s best QB+ season was [scored as a 79.1] in 2019, which is comparable to Mahomes’ performance over the past two seasons [81.6 and 82.9]. However, Wentz’s QB+ [score of 64.2] in his last starting season (2022 with Washington) represents a significant drop-off compared to Mahomes’ worst season in 2023 [81.6].”

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The Chiefs announced the release of running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, their first-round pick from the 2020 NFL Draft. While Edwards-Helaire registered a team-high 803 rushing yards in his rookie year, his production decreased every season thereafter. Despite permanently losing his starting role, he remained a fan favorite.

Edwards-Helaire posted a goodbye message on X, “Love ya KC! A family I didn’t know I needed, y’all made a Kid from Baton Rouge dreams come true! To Chiefs Kingdom , its all love and the support I had in troubling times will forever be unmatched from you guys! With love! ❤️ 💛 -Clydro ✌🏾.”

The running back’s wife, JoJo Edwards Helaire, reacted to the news on her Instagram Stories. She posted a graphic of her husband’s message and fan’s note that read, “I hate to see this 🥺 I wish he and his wife nothing but the best, this is a hard goodbye ❤️‍🩹.”

@teniajojo/InstagramJoJo Edwards-Helaire posts a message following her husband’s release from the Chiefs.

JoJo posted the screenshot and simply wrote, “🥰😊.”

The LSU alum and JoJo tied the knot in Southern California before training camp started in June. Several of his Chiefs teammates were in attendance including tight end Travis Kelce, who flew all the way from his girlfriend Taylor Swift’s Eras show in Dublin, Ireland, to be there for the big day.

While the Chiefs announced her husband’s release just one day after JoJo’s 26th birthday, the couple appears to be at peace with the decision.

Clyde Edwards-Helaire Didn’t Appear in 1 Game With the Chiefs This Season

While the Chiefs clinched the AFC West title for the ninth straight season and at 13-1, hold the best record in the league, Edwards-Helaire could only cheer for his team from the sidelines. The 25-year-old was placed on the non-football illness (NFI) list in early September due to his ongoing battle with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Edwards-Helaire was activated off the NFI list, but never returned to the lineup. Despite not suiting up, he and his wife supported the team in person.

The Chiefs’ decision to re-sign the veteran for the 2024 NFL season came as a surprise after Kansas City declined Edwards-Helaire’s $5.46 million fifth-year option. Edwards-Helaire re-joined the Chiefs on a one-year, $1.7 million contract.

Last season, CEH recorded just 70 rushes for 223 yards and 1 touchdown, along with 17 receptions for 188 yards and a score. In four playoff games, he registered 11 carries for 53 yards.

Clyde Edwards-Helaire Credited Chiefs TE Travis Kelce For Helping Him Through His Struggles

GettyFormer Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire #25 and tight end Travis Kelce at Arrowhead Stadium on October 10, 2022.

In an interview with the “The Pivot” in November, Edwards-Helaire opened up about his PTSD stemming from a 2018 shooting incident.

After getting drafted by the Chiefs, the rookie then struggled to connect with his teammates amid COVID restrictions. “The only person… who reached out to make sure I’m good, text me on random days, was Travis,” Edwards-Helaire said. “He’s probably been my best friend since I walked through the door.

“Travis is real, real heartfelt. He’s probably not the most religious person but he’s going to speak whatever he feels at the time. I really look at him as a big brother. I needed somebody to lean on.”

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“Love ya KC!” Edwards-Helaire stated on X. “A family I didn’t know I needed, y’all made a Kid from Baton Rouge dreams come true! To Chiefs Kingdom , its all love and the support I had in troubling times will forever be unmatched from you guys! With love! ❤️ 💛 -Clydro ✌🏾.”

It’s been an eye-opening season off the field for Edwards-Helaire, who revealed that he’s been battling symptoms caused by PTSD since 2018. The same symptoms caused the former first-round running back to miss parts of training camp and the preseason — which led to him beginning the regular season on the injured reserve.

Eventually, the ball carrier nicknamed “CEH” was activated off IR, but there were still questions of his availability — both mentally and physically.

At the same time, Kansas City had already brought in different half backs to account for both Edwards-Helaire and teammate Isiah Pacheco’s early season absences. Once the pair of ex-starters were healthy again, the depth chart became very crowded, very quickly.

As a result of that, Edwards-Helaire had been a healthy scratch in recent weeks, stuck behind Pacheco, Kareem Hunt, Samaje Perine and undrafted rookie Carson Steele on the roster.

It felt like an inevitability that his time in KC would come to a close following the 2024 campaign, but in the end, the Chiefs elected to finalize the roster move at the start of Week 16.

Clyde Edwards-Helaire Cut Could Signal Chiefs WR Hollywood Brown Is Ready to Return

Per Chiefs Digest beat reporter Matt Derrick, Kansas City waiving CEH would “appear to open up a roster spot for the expected return of WR Hollywood Brown.”

Like Edwards-Helaire, Brown has yet to suit up for a regular season game in 2024, but his recovery has been trending in the right direction in recent weeks.

On the morning of December 16, NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport relayed that “[Brown] practiced on Friday, and from my understanding, he was so quick and so impressive in practice on Friday that there is a possibility — a very real possibility — that Hollywood Brown makes his Chiefs debut not in Week 17 or 18 but this coming week [against the Houston Texans].”

So, while it’s unfortunate that Edwards-Helaire’s time in KC has come to end, the silver lining for fans is that Brown could finally debut. Such is life in a business like the NFL.

Chiefs Kingdom Reacts to Clyde Edwards-Helaire’s KC Farewell

Chiefs fans showed Edwards-Helaire an enormous amount of love and support on social media after he announced his release from the organization.

“Love to you, Clyde. Your willingness to share your journey has been impactful to people, including myself,” KC Sports Network’s Kent Swanson responded.

Actor and diehard Chiefs supporter Eric Stonestreet also replied: “❤️ you’re the best guy.”

And countless others voiced their appreciation too.

“My guy. Chiefs kingdom will always be a place for you and the journey you went on and bravely shared to everyone will never be forgotten,” one fan wrote. “Good luck with all of your endeavors!”

Another said: “We love you Clyde. Thanks for providing fun and laughter in the locker room and thanks for helping deliver two Super Bowls to KC. Forever a Chief 🙏🏼.”

Finally, one comment simply read: “Much love, Clyde! Chiefs Kingdom will always support you! ❤️💛.”

His post has 8,500 likes and over 1 million views in an hour and a half.

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“Sources: #Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes was diagnosed with a mild high-ankle sprain following tests, and he’s still considered week-to-week,” NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport wrote on December 16. “Tests confirmed initial thoughts.”

The update on Mahomes’s ankle injury confirms Rapoport’s initial report on Sunday that the team “feared” that Mahomes had a high-ankle sprain.

How Much Time Will Patrick Mahomes Miss?

Mahomes isn’t expected to be sidelined for very long if at all based on the fact that we saw him play through the same type of injury during Kansas City’s 2023 Super Bowl. But the injury could not have come at a worse time from a scheduling standpoint.

Starting with the team’s Week 15 win over the Browns, the Chiefs have to play three games in 11 games. The team’s next game is on Saturday, December 21 against the Houston Texans and then they have a quick turnaround with a Christmas Day matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers the following Wednesday.

Per Rapoport, the Chiefs will not determine Mahomes’s status for Saturday’s game against the Texans until he practices. If he cannot play, then backup QB Carson Wentz would likely start in place of Mahomes.

“The #Chiefs will know more as the practice week rolls on, and there is a chance that Patrick Mahomes practices this week,” Rapoport wrote on December 16. “He’s week-to-week, so his status this week is in doubt. Most importantly: ‘He’ll be fine long-term,’ a source said.”

X Users Reacted to Patrick Mahomes Injury Update

Users on X, formerly Twitter, reacted to Rapoport’s injury update on Mahomes.

“Only mild? That’s the best news than what it could have been Wentz plays Saturday and beats Texans at Arrowhead Mahomes plays on Christmas in Pittsburgh with 10 days of rest and beats Steelers to clinch the 1 seed,” one person wrote. “Will the Steelers even play their starters a full game if they beat Ravens on Sunday?”

“Yeah any other player & I’d have my doubts but we literally just saw this in the playoffs 2 years ago 4-6 weeks until it’s 100% healed, 2-3 weeks of limited mobility + elevated injury risk,” another person wrote. “Due to how he’s handled injuries in the past, I think there’s a good chance he doesn’t miss a game which sounds crazy to say (obviously assuming no reinjury).”

“I’d sit him this week and then see how he is for Christmas game and give him limited reps so that he is ready for the most important thing. PLAYOFFS,” another person wrote.

“With the way Mahomes played yesterday I feel the chiefs could play as good as that with wentz,” another person wrote. “The broncos and the Steelers both are very winnable games without Mahomes.”

“Sit him Saturday. Let wentz do what you brought him in for. If you win then don’t play him till week 18 for a quarter,” another person wrote. “If you lose then see if he can give it a go against the Steelers but don’t push it.”

“At least sit the Texans game. If chiefs win, sit him again for Steelers. If they lose, he should probably play against the Steelers to hold onto the 1 seed,” another person wrote.

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And former NFL quarterbacks within the media believe Kansas City would be wise to rest the two-time league MVP for the upcoming matchup with the Houston Texans. “Patrick Mahomes faces an uphill battle to play Saturday,” ex-Chiefs QB Chase Daniel posted on X on December 16, along with a clip from FOX Sports One’s “The Facility,” explaining his opinion.

“[Mahomes] has a history of these right ankle injuries and when you’re a quarterback — because it’s different, guys, for [quarterbacks] when it’s the right ankle versus the left ankle,” Daniel began. “So, left ankle on a right-handed quarterback, you don’t really need your left ankle because you’re not pushing off. When you get to your right foot though, all your power comes from your push off. And especially under center, when you’re pushing off away from the line of scrimmage, it’s going to be hard [for Mahomes] to protect himself.”

“I think that’s what the Chiefs have to weigh,” the long-time NFL QB warned. “Can [Mahomes] protect [himself] in the pocket because remember, they’ve had left tackle issues — he’s been sacked like 15 times in the last three games. That’s the issue that I [worry about], not a great offensive line.”

Daniel also noted that Mahomes is at his best when he can move around in the pocket and get outside if need be. And he was particularly concerned about Mahomes suffering a right ankle injury, due to the “push off” that the front leg typically provides.

Ex-NFL Star QB Matt Ryan Agrees Chiefs Should Sit Patrick Mahomes in Week 16 vs. Texans

Similar to Daniel, former Atlanta Falcons star quarterback Matt Ryan argued that the Chiefs should sit Mahomes in Week 16 out of precaution.

“I mean, if it was me, I would sit him,” Ryan told the CBS Sports crew on the morning of December 16. “I think it’s most important to have him healthy for the playoff stretch and ankles are tough [injuries].”

“I know he’s done it in the playoffs before, kind of played through that [injury and] played really well with it, but those are playoff games,” the four-time Pro Bowler reasoned. “I look at this regular season — they’ve got the two-game lead, first place in the AFC — they’ve got these two games back-to-back. Maybe you can get him back for Week 18, get a little rhythm heading into the playoffs.”

Ryan added that it does make sense to see how Mahomes’ ankle heals the next few days before deciding on his availability but stressed that he’d have “no qualms” with resting him for a couple of weeks.

Chiefs’ Upcoming Schedule ‘Complicates’ Patrick Mahomes’ Recovery Timeline, Says NFL Insider

Ryan hinted at this on CBS Sports, but the Chiefs’ upcoming schedule does them no favors when it comes to getting Mahomes back out onto the field.

Both head coach Andy Reid and Mahomes himself expressed optimism on the status of his ankle after the win over the Browns, but Daniel and Ryan make some good points. As did Rapoport on NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football.”

“You watch that hit [on Mahomes], high-low, the amount of pain he’s in, him limping off, none of it is good,” Rapoport relayed.

Continuing: “That said, it does not appear based on the initial diagnosis that this is a dire situation. Yes, I said the words high ankle sprain, that is the fear. Patrick Mahomes is going to have more tests [on December 16].

“But this is the same Mahomes that had a somewhat similar high ankle sprain around the playoffs a couple years back and ended up playing. His body is just built different… So, we will see what his status is. The fact that he has a Saturday game and then a Christmas game does complicate things.”

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This article was originally published on Heavy Sports

The post Ex-Chiefs QB Sends KC Warning About Patrick Mahomes’ Ankle Injury appeared first on Heavy Sports.