By DAVE SKRETTA
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes harm his left knee whereas attempting to maintain his workforce’s postseason hopes alive within the waning seconds of a 16-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, and Kansas Metropolis coach Andy Reid acknowledged afterward that “it did not look good.”
The Chiefs had simply crossed midfield with lower than two minutes to go when Mahomes scrambled towards the Kansas Metropolis sideline, then tried to eliminate the ball. He was spun to the bottom upon launch by Chargers defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand, and the two-time MVP instantly grabbed at his left knee whereas trainers converged on him.
Mahomes was ultimately helped to the blue damage tent on the sideline, however he solely stayed there for just a few moments. He quickly emerged with employees members on both facet of him, limping towards the locker room with a white towel draped over his head.
“He will get an MRI tomorrow or this evening,” Reid mentioned, “whenever we can.”
Gardner Minshew entered the sport and accomplished three straight passes to present the Chiefs an opportunity. However he was picked off by Derwin James on a bounce ball supposed for Travis Kelce with 14 seconds remaining, sealing the Chargers’ season sweep of Kansas Metropolis.
“I hate the situation. I hate that I couldn’t deliver the win and keep our hopes alive,” Minshew mentioned.
The loss, together with wins by Jacksonville, Buffalo and Houston, eradicated the defending AFC champs from playoff competition.
“It’s very frustrating, man. It’s been hard to watch for Pat, a dude that puts so much into it,” Minshew mentioned. “I’ve never seen someone give so much of themselves to the team. I have confidence in him and his ability to come back better than ever.”
Chiefs banged up in all places
The damage to Mahomes, who threw for simply 189 yards with an interception, was merely the most recent — and maybe most extreme — in a sequence of setbacks that had turned what had been one of many NFL’s finest offenses for the higher a part of a decade right into a shadow of itself.
Kansas Metropolis began the sport with left sort out Josh Simmons on injured reserve with a fractured wrist, backup Wanya Morris out with a knee damage, proper sort out Trey Smith inactive with an ankle damage and proper sort out Jawaan Taylor coping with a triceps damage.
Backup proper sort out Jaylon Moore harm his knee in the course of the sport, too, leaving journeyman Esa Pole and Chukwuebuka Godrick — a world pathway participant who had by no means appeared in an NFL sport — to guard Mahomes down the stretch.
The Chiefs additionally had been lacking Marquise Brown, who was inactive whereas coping with a household matter, and fellow vast receiver Tyquan Thornton, who was crushed by Chargers cornerback Tony Jefferson after a 20-yard catch and was evaluated for a concussion.
One other receiver, Xavier Worthy, missed a part of the sport whereas clearing the concussion protocol.
It hasn’t simply been the Chiefs’ offense the place the accidents have mounted.
They started the sport with out Trent McDuffie, who was inactive with a knee damage. Then, in a span of three straight performs, they misplaced linebacker Nick Bolton, defensive sort out Chris Jones and cornerback Jaylen Watson, although every of them ultimately returned.
“We have a lot of guys who are very resilient in our locker room,” Jones mentioned. “We all knew what was at stake. We all wanted to be part of this game. We were looking forward to it. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the outcome we hoped for, but everyone battled.”
