Patrick Mahomes left the Kansas City Chiefs game against the New York Jets with what appeared to be a serious injury to his right (throwing) arm Sunday afternoon, but that was only because we forgot what this guy is apparently made of.
The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback took a hit from New York Jets edge rusher David Bailey as he was winding up to throw a deep pass. Instead, his arm hit Bailey as the defender closed in on Mahomes.
The ball fluttered to the ground as an apparent fumble.
Mahomes was left on his knees, grasping his right elbow, in obvious pain.
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The shocking thing of all this? Mahomes returned to the game.
The man is Gumby.
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Despite seeming to favor the arm as he tried to make throws on the sideline, Mahomes returned to the game on Kansas City’s next series and threw a completion to tight end Travis Kelce.
Then he scrambled up the middle for a 7-yard gain.
This is not normal.
After halftime, which almost definitely included another evaluation of Mahomes’ elbow, the quarterback went back in the game. And he helped the Chiefs drive for a touchdown and a 21-12 lead.
It is clear that Mahomes avoided a UCL tear because such an injury to his elbow would prevent him from throwing the football. San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy suffered such an injury in the playoffs several years ago.