PHOENIX – Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said he will push himself through practice the next few days to see where his injured right ankle is at before Sunday’s game.
“I don’t know if I’ll necessarily test it, test it but I’ll try not to have a ban,” Mahomes said Tuesday. “Even in the AFC Championship game, I was trying to test it and practice it and do different things, but if there’s a play, maybe I’ll roll out. Doing where I ease into it. Whereas this week I’ll try to push it and try to be closer to 100 percent. Obviously, I’m not trying to tweak it or anything like that. doing
Mahomes suffered a high ankle sprain in the Chiefs’ AFC Divisional Round win over the Jaguars. It usually takes weeks to come back from an injury, but Mahomes won the AFC title game and the Chiefs are in their third Super Bowl in four years. It hurt him a bit in that win, but Mahomes said it feels better now.
Patrick Mahomes breaks out to pass against the Las Vegas Raiders during the first half at Allegiant Stadium.
Advertisement
“We’ve done a great job this last week and a half of letting him rest when we need to but still pushing him and being in the right place,” he said. “It’s definitely a better position than it was before that last game.”
Before becoming the Giants’ offensive coordinator, Mike Kafka was a player and assistant under Andy Reid. The Eagles drafted Kafka in 2010 when Reid was the head coach, and then Kafka coached under Reid with the Chiefs from 2017-21, helping Mahomes develop. Kafka is now one of two known finalists to become the Cardinals’ head coach, along with Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, who has drawn some questions about him from the local media here. Reed supported Kafka on Tuesday.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Mike Kafka passes during a preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Lincoln Financial Field in 2012.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterbacks coach Mike Kafka talks with Patrick Mahomes during a 2019 regular season game against the Detroit Lions.
Advertisement
“I actually did [Cardinals owner Michael] Say this too. He’s a very smart, great person,” Reed said. “The quarterback is going to love him. He will challenge her that she is still better than him. But he will do a great job. He will challenge the team. I think people will respond. He played in the National Football League. I had the opportunity to draft him from Northwestern. I think he will be great for the city, the Bidwell family and all of you.
Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said he’s calm as the work week begins, focused on keeping the team focused on what got them here.
“Just being locked into the situation that we’re in and going through the same routine that we have to go through,” Siriani said. “That was a big part of it, talking about the distractions that are here, how it’s a little different, how we should go about our business like we’ve been doing for the last 20 weeks.”
This is not lip service from Siriani. He said his wife and three children were due to arrive in town on Tuesday but, given the season’s normal schedule, he wasn’t going to see much of them.
“I don’t usually see them on Tuesdays and Wednesdays,” Siriani said. “I see them on Thursdays and I’ll try my best to be a really good dad on Thursdays, but on Tuesdays and Wednesdays I’ll do what I normally do, I’ll come to the office late, continue working. The plan, the details of the plan to continue.”
Fox analyst Rob Gronkowski reacts to longtime teammate Tom Brady joining him in retirement.
“I was definitely surprised,” Gronkowski said. “He’s still got something left in the tank, no doubt about that. I feel Tom can play until he’s 50. It depends on when he leaves it … but I like him. Proud of everything.
Gronkowski said his advice to Brady is to “take it slow” in retirement and “be able to say no.” They would eventually team up again for NFL on Fox broadcasts, with Brady in the booth and Gronkowski in the studio.
“If you ever need some pointers,” Grankowski said, “call me.”
Read full article here