Mark Schlereth.
Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXHead coach of the Kansas City Chiefs Andy Reid bears the blame for the ankle injury suffered by the quarterback Patrick Mahomesaccording to NFL legend Mark Schlereth.
Mahomes, 29, left the Chiefs game against the Cleveland Browns in the fourth quarter on Sunday, December 15, after injuring his right ankle. The two-time MVP suffered a high ankle sprain and is questionable for Saturday, December 21’s game against the Houston Texans.
“Part of my question is, why are you still throwing the ball when you’re up 21-0?” Schlereth, 58, asked Monday, December 16 The Rich Eisen Show.
Mahomes’ injury actually came when the Chiefs won 21-7. After Mahomes left the game, backup quarterback Carson Wentz closed out the win for Kansas City.
“There seems to be an aversion towards Andy Reid running the football and eating things,” Schlereth continued. “Like, ‘I’m going to win the way I want to win.’ I said this as a criticism when they lost the Super Bowl to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a few years ago [in 2021]. They averaged seven yards per carry, but that’s not enough. “We’re going to throw the damn ball every chance we get.”
Schlereth, a former guard who played 12 seasons in the NFL from 1989 to 2000, further questioned Reid’s decision-making, saying the Chiefs “have a history this year of not being able to protect your quarterback.”
“You were on your fourth offensive left tackle in this game and yet you still threw it with the lead,” he added. “I really don’t understand Andy Reid’s philosophy. He’s a great coach, Hall of Famer for sure. But there are times when I just completely disagree with the way he calls a game.”
After Sunday’s win, Reid, 66, acknowledged that Mahomes was unhappy with his decision to keep him out of the game.
“He wanted to fight about it, but we have good support behind him with Carson and it was good to get him some reps there as well, and let our guys hear that quick count in case he has to go,” Reid told reporters.
Patrick Mahomes spoke about his friendship with Travis Kelce after the pair made a crucial completion during the Kansas City Chiefs’ game-winning drive on Sunday, December 8. “He means the world to me, man,” the 29-year-old Mahomes told Kelce reporters after the team’s 19-17 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. ‘Without getting emotional, that’s what he is […]
The injury occurred when Mahomes was dragged down from behind by Brown’s defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson and at the same time getting hit high by Brown’s defensive tackle Mike Hall.
Mahomes told reporters that he “could have finished the game under different circumstances,” and explained what led to him fumbling awkwardly.
“I was trying to get in the pocket, obviously on fourth down, trying to make a play,” Mahomes said. “While I was throwing the ball, I got hit a little bit – and I didn’t see it – but it felt like someone hit me from behind too. So I got a little wound up. That happens sometimes in football, so I tried to get back up, but obviously it hurt a little.”
The Chiefs return to action on Saturday, December 21 – possibly without Mahomes – against the Houston Texans at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.