Super Bowl: Patrick Mahomes will try to play with ‘no restrictions’ despite ankle sprain

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes plays down injury concerns ahead of the Super Bowl and says he will play with ‘no restrictions’ despite ankle sprain

Patrick Mahomes has been buoyed by his chances of playing injury-free at the Super Bowl, claiming that he’ll try to play with ‘no restrictions’ against the Eagles in Arizona.

The 27-year-old quarterback sustained a high ankle sprain in the Chiefs’ 27-20 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in the divisional round of the playoffs and was limited in his ability to run against the Bengals in the AFC title win (23-20). 

He’s been trying to shake off the injury in time for America’s most-watched, annual broadcast on February 12. 

‘I don’t know if I’ll necessarily test it, but I’m going to try to have no restrictions,’ Mahomes said of his ankle on Tuesday. 

‘Even in the AFC Championship game, I was trying to test it in and practice on it and do different kinds of stuff, but if there would be a play maybe if I was rolling out where I would kind of ease up on it.

Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes will try to play injury-free on Super Bowl Sunday

The 27-year-old played most of the Chiefs' last two games with a heavily taped right ankle

The 27-year-old played most of the Chiefs’ last two games with a heavily taped right ankle

Mahomes sustained the injury in the first half of the divisional round series against the Jaguars

Mahomes sustained the injury in the first half of the divisional round series against the Jaguars

‘Whereas this week I’m going to try to push it and try to be as close to 100 percent. Obviously, I’m not trying to tweak it or anything like that.’ 

Depending on the severity of the sprain, ankles usually tend to heal within just a few weeks but Mahomes’ postseason route to the Super Bowl has somewhat delayed his recovery. 

‘We’ve done a great job in this last week and a half of letting it rest when we need to but still pushing it and being in the right spot,’ he said. ‘It’s definitely in a way better position than it was before this last game.’ 

The Chiefs are in their third Super Bowl in four years but the significance of Sunday’s matchup isn’t lost on Mahomes.

‘I think about it a lot,’ the one-time Super Bowl champion said. ‘The quarterbacks that came before me — Shack Harris, Doug Williams — that laid the foundation for me to be in this position. It goes across all sports. 

‘If you think about Jackie Robinson and the people who broke the color barrier in baseball, I wouldn’t be standing here today if it wasn’t for them.’

‘To be lucky enough to be in this position — and play against another great guy like Jalen — it will be a special moment,’ he added. 

‘I’m glad we’re here today, but how can we keep moving forward? How can we motivate kids who are younger, who want to follow their dreams to be a quarterback?’ 

Mahomes will play in the third Super Bowl game of his career against Eagles QB Jalen Hurts (L)

Mahomes will play in the third Super Bowl game of his career against Eagles QB Jalen Hurts (L) 

The last time that Mahomes played in Glendale Arizona was in a 44-21 win vs. the Cardinals

The last time that Mahomes played in Glendale Arizona was in a 44-21 win vs. the Cardinals

Meanwhile, Philadelphia Eagles coach Nick Sirianni is thrilled young aspiring football players all over the world will get to watch two Black quarterbacks face each other for the first time in the Super Bowl.  

He’s also pleased they get to watch two really, really good quarterbacks.

‘I’m really excited for both quarterbacks, what they can represent to a ton of kids,’ Sirianni said at Monday’s Super Bowl media night. 

‘Not only are they two African-American quarterbacks, but they’re the two best quarterbacks in the NFL this year. First-team All-Pro, second-team All-Pro.

‘They both play at the highest level.’

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