What happened to Patrick Mahomes? MVP limping after rough hit
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes limped off the field during the Super Bowl after a hit by Philadelphia Eagles linebacker T.J. Edwards as he tried to escape and get to the first down mark.
The quarterback went to the bench and spoke with head coach Andy Reid as he was looking at a tablet. He then tried to walk it off but was clearly in pain.
Chiefs' backup quarterback Chad Henne began to warm up in the meantime.
Mahomes initially suffered a high-ankle sprain during the AFC Divisional Round game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He played in the AFC Championship Game against the Cincinnati Bengals, but his movement was seriously hampered. He appeared to be healthy at the start of the Super Bowl before re-injuring his ankle.
He also suffered an ankle injury the last time he played in a Super Bowl. Two seasons ago, he was severely hampered by an injury against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl LV, a game the Chiefs lost 31-9.
Who is Patrick Mahomes' backup for Super Bowl LVII?
If the Chiefs need to turn to their backup quarterback, Chad Henne is the man for the job.
Henne is a league veteran who has filled in for Mahomes in previous years. He has been with the Chiefs since the 2018 season and his most notable game is the AFC Divisional Round clash against the Cleveland Browns in the 2020 season, when Patrick suffered a concussion and Henne had to step in.
He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in 2008 and spent four seasons with the team. He also played for the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2012 to 2017. He was part of the roster that won Super Bowl LIV three years ago but did not play in the 2019 season.
Henne also started a game for Kansas City in 2020, when head coach Andy Reid decided to rest his starters for the season finale. He had a good game, completing 28 of 38 passes for 248 yards and two touchdowns. However, the Chiefs lost that game 38-21 to the Los Angeles Chargers, closing the regular season with an excellent 14-2 record.
Henne has done a nice job of filling in for Mahomes during a playoff game before, but they obviously don't want to have him playing in the Super Bowl.