Mahomes listed day-to-day with elbow soreness as Chiefs prepare for Falcons

Patrick Mahomes is day-to-day with a right elbow injury, Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Monday. Reid described the update as encouraging after the quarterback was hit while throwing in Sunday's win over the New York Jets.

"It was more positive news than negative news on Patrick," Reid said. He added that the plan is rehab work to clear out the soreness and that the team would see how things progress from there.

Mahomes was at the team's facility Monday morning for treatment. An MRI taken after the game did not show a major injury, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported, citing sources.

The play came late in the second quarter. Jets edge rusher David Bailey hit Mahomes on his throwing arm as he released a pass. Edge rusher Will McDonald IV and defensive lineman Darrell Jackson Jr. reached him on the same play. Mahomes grimaced on the ground. On the sideline he flexed the elbow, threw a few warmup passes and went back in without missing an offensive snap.

Three defenders arriving on one dropback is a problem for Kansas City no matter what the medical reports say. Whatever happens with the elbow this week, the Chiefs' protection on that play deserves as much attention as their quarterback's recovery. Keeping rushers away from Mahomes is the one part of this situation the coaching staff can actually control.

Mahomes spoke after the game in the blunt way he usually does about injuries. "If I'm able to play, I'm going to play," he said. He also admitted the moment shook him: "It scares you in moments, when you get some pains in certain areas of your body." He said it didn't feel great but that the work on it during the game, especially at halftime, helped.

His final line was efficient. He completed 23 of 31 passes for 242 yards and two touchdowns. He also averaged only 2.8 air yards per attempt, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. That is the second-lowest figure in a game during his career. Kansas City moved the ball on short throws and still came away with the win, which is a useful reminder that the offense can produce without leaning on the deep ball.

Kansas City plays at Atlanta on Sunday. The training staff is expected to spend the week trying to bring down the swelling in the elbow and reduce the pain Mahomes feels when he throws. Reid said he didn't know whether Mahomes would take full reps in the team's three practices. He pointed to Wednesday as the first checkpoint.

"He feels pretty good today. He's sore, but I'm glad we're not practicing today," Reid said.

That leaves a clear marker for fans and opponents alike. Monday's news ruled out the worst case, according to Rapoport's report on the MRI, and Reid sounded at ease. But "day-to-day" covers a wide range of outcomes. The most concrete information will come from the first injury report of the week and from how much Mahomes throws when practice starts.

Reid's caution looks like the right call. The coach didn't commit to a full practice load, offered no timeline beyond Wednesday and leaned on the training staff's process instead of a promise. Mahomes has been the Chiefs' starter since 2018, and the franchise's plans revolve around him. Managing a sore throwing arm through a careful midseason week costs little compared with rushing the process.

Reid also offered a reassuring note: "He's in good spirits." Wednesday's practice will show whether the elbow has caught up with his attitude.