15 Patrick Mahomes QB

Mahomes completed 29 of 38 pass attempts for 325 yards and three touchdowns, adding five carries for five yards during Sunday's 38-24 win against the Bills in the AFC Championship Game.

By virtue of Kansas City's 22-17 win over Cleveland in the divisional round, Mahomes garnered the opportunity to become the first quarterback in NFL history to start three conference title games in his first four seasons in the league. He had to overcome a case of turf toe and a stint in the NFL's concussion protocol to earn his 17th start of the season. After exiting in the third quarter of last Sunday's win over the Browns, Mahomes proved capable of doing just that. Kansas City remained without starting right tackle Mitchell Schwartz (back) for the AFC Championship Game, while Eric Fisher (Achilles) departed during the contest and was unable to return. Still, Buffalo generated only one sack of Mahomes, as the Chiefs were 5-for-6 in converting red-zone opportunities into TDs. The 25-year-old gets his second Super Bowl appearance in as many seasons as he prepares for a fifth career game against Tom Brady. Mahomes is 2-2 in head-to-head matchups with Brady, who will make the 10th Super Bowl appearance of his illustrious career during his debut season in Tampa Bay.

Mahomes doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the Bills, but his mobility could be compromised while he contends with a turf toe issue on his left foot, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Before he exited last week's divisional-round win over the Browns with the head injury, Mahomes didn't look to be moving around at 100 percent, though he still avoided taking a sack and scrambled three times for 14 yards and a touchdown. Mahomes was able to take most of the Chiefs' snaps in practice this week and eventually cleared the NFL's five-step concussion protocol, but since most of those sessions were walk-throughs, he didn't put much strain on the toe in question. For his part, Mahomes doesn't seem to believe his toe is a major concern, saying that the injury has "gotten a lot better every single day." The Chiefs still plan to have Mahomes meet with a foot specialist after the season to determine whether he'll need offseason surgery to provide a more permanent fix for the toe.

Mahomes (head/toe) has been cleared from the concussion protocol and will play in Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the Bills, Adam Teicher of ESPN.com reports.

Mahomes revealed the big news about 15 minutes after coach Andy Reid told reporters that the QB had one step remaining to clear the protocol. The star quarterback says he hasn't dealt with any concussion symptoms this week, also mentioning that his toe injury feels much better, per Nate Taylor of The Athletic. Mahomes said he'll "go out there and be myself" in the AFC Championship Game against Buffalo.

Coach Andy Reid said Friday that Mahomes has made it through four of five steps in the concussion protocol, Adam Teicher of ESPN.com reports.

Mahomes took the majority of practice snaps Wednesday and Thursday, with the Chiefs listing him as a limited participant in both sessions. Regardless of his classification on the Friday injury report, Mahomes will need clearance from an independent neurological consultant and the Chiefs' physician before he can play in the AFC Championship Game against Buffalo on Sunday. Chad Henne will fill in at quarterback if Mahomes isn't able to play.

Mahomes (concussion/toe) was officially listed as limited at practice Thursday.

Though Mahomes continues to be listed as limited by the team, Adam Teicher of ESPN.com notes that coach Andy Reid said that the star QB took the majority of signal-caller snaps during Thursday's practice. Friday's final injury report of the week will reveal whether Mahomes draws an injury designation for Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the Bills or is fully cleared to play by virtue of completely passing through the NFL's concussion protocol.

The Chiefs seemingly expect Mahomes (concussion) to be ready for Sunday's game against Buffalo, as he received the majority of first-team snaps during Thursday's practice, Adam Teicher of ESPN.com reports.

Mahomes also took most of the snaps Wednesday, when he was initially listed as a full participant before the Chiefs downgraded him to LP in accordance with the rules of the NFL's concussion protocol. He'll still need to pass through the final stages of the protocol to gain clearance for the AFC Championship Game, so it's possible the Chiefs list him as limited when they release their Thursday injury report.

Kansas City's official injury report now lists Mahomes (concussion/toe) as a limited participant at Wednesday's practice.

Per Adam Teicher of ESPN.com, the team amended its injury report to reflect that Mahomes is still in the NFL's concussion protocol. That said, Teicher points out that coach Any Reid indicated that the quarterback was able to take all the snaps in what is being described as a lighter practice. Mahomes' participation Wednesday in any capacity is a step in the right direction toward him gaining medical clearance for Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the Bills.

The Chiefs listed Mahomes (concussion/toe) as a full participant in Wednesday's practice.

An earlier report suggested Mahomes was a limited participant, but he apparently showed enough to get a full designation on the Chiefs' official practice report. He's off to a good start in his bid to be cleared for Sunday's AFC Championship Game, with his participation Wednesday suggesting he may have already made it to the fourth step of the NFL's five-step concussion protocol. Head coach Andy Reid said Thursday's practice will be the important one for evaluating his injured players -- a list that includes Mahomes, running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire (ankle) and wideout Sammy Watkins (calf).

Mahomes (concussion/toe) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice, Adam Teicher of ESPN.com reports.

Mahomes reportedly took all the first-team snaps, though the Chiefs' first practice of the week reportedly wasn't a physically demanding one. He's off to a good start in his bid to be cleared for Sunday's AFC Championship Game, with his participation Wednesday -- even in a limited capacity -- suggesting he may already be on the fourth step of the NFL's five-step concussion protocol. Head coach Andy Reid said Thursday's practice will be the important one for evaluating his injured players, a list that includes Mahomes, running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire (ankle) and wideout Sammy Watkins (calf).

Mahomes (concussion/toe) handled all the first-team snaps during the Chiefs' practice session Wednesday, Adam Teicher of ESPN.com reports.

It isn't clear if the Chiefs will list Mahomes as a full or limited participant on their first practice report of the week, which will be released later Wednesday. Either way, Mahomes' availability for Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the Bills will depend on his ability to clear the concussion protocol, rather than his practice participation throughout the week. He's also listed with a toe injury, but it isn't believed to threaten his availability for Sunday.

Mahomes (concussion/toe) is expected to practice Wednesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports.

Schefter notes that Mahomes cleared "some big steps" Monday, but the quarterback -- who is also dealing with a toe injury -- is still in the NFL's concussion protocol at this stage. While Mahomes' toe issue is being downplayed by head coach Andy Reid, the star signal-caller's status for Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the Bills has yet to be solidified. If Mahomes isn't cleared for the contest, Chad Henne would start at quarterback for Kansas City in his place.

Though Mahomes cleared "some big steps" Monday, he remains in the NFL's concussion protocol, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

While that's a step in the right direction for the star QB, Schefter notes that "it's too early to say" that Mahomes will "definitely" be cleared to play in Sunday's AFC Championship game. Further context with regard to Mahomes' progress will arrive no later than Wednesday, once Kansas City re-takes the practice field.

Coach Andy Reid said Monday that Mahomes (concussion) will "be OK" in reference to his toe injury, Sam McDowell of The Kansas City Star reports.

Mahomes was evaluated in the medical tent due to a toe injury in the first quarter of the AFC divisional-round win over the Browns, but he managed to tough out the issue before later suffering a concussion in the third quarter. Reid responded with less direct optimism when asked about Mahomes' chances of being able to practice prior to Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the Bills, saying "that's for [the medical staff] to decide," per Herbie Teope of The Kansas City Star. In order to suit up against Buffalo, Mahomes will first need to clear the league's five-step protocol for concussions, the final phase of which includes meeting with an independent neurologist, but it sounds like he'll at least have his mobility intact if given the green light to play.

Coach Andy Reid said after Sunday's divisional-round win against the Browns that Mahomes (concussion) is "doing great right now" and "passed all of the deals he had to pass," Jeff Darlington of ESPN reports.

The Chiefs lost Mahomes in the middle of the third quarter when he had difficulty getting to his feet and clearly was wobbly as he was assisted to the sideline. After a visit to the locker room, subsequent testing revealed a concussion diagnosis, meaning the quarterback will need to pass through the protocol for head injuries in order to suit up in the AFC Championship Game. According to Sam McDowell of The Kansas City Star, Reid noted the team will "see how he is tomorrow," but there may not be a sense of his progress through the aforementioned protocol until Kansas City reconvenes for practice Wednesday. In Mahomes' stead, Chad Henne ended up leading Kansas City to a 22-17 victory and will be the starter under center next Sunday against the Bills if the former is unable to go.

Mahomes (concussion) has been ruled out for the rest of Sunday's divisional-round game against the Browns.

Mahomes has officially been diagnosed with a concussion after leaving the game in the third quarter. Chad Henne will finish the playoff game under center. Prior to his exit, Mahomes completed 21 of 30 passes for 255 yards and a touchdown, and he added three carries for 14 yards and a score.

Mahomes is being evaluated for a concussion during Sunday's divisional-round game against the Browns.

This news was expected, as Mahomes was wobbly as he was helped to the sidelines in the third quarter. Chad Henne will take over under center for the Chiefs.

Mahomes (undisclosed) went to the locker room during the third quarter of Sunday's divisional-round game against the Browns, Nate Taylor of The Athletic reports.

Mahomes struggled to get to his feet and was visibly wobbly as he was assisted to the sidelines by the Chiefs' medical staff. Earlier in the contest, he appeared to hurt his toe, getting evaluated in the sideline tent at least one time, but he continued to gut it out. The nature of the current concern is unknown, but Mahomes may be under evaluation for a concussion. Chad Henne took over the reins of the offense for Kansas City.

Mahomes wasn't listed on the official injury report the Chiefs released Wednesday, Herbie Teope of The Kansas City Star reports.

Mahomes rested during Kansas City's regular-season finale against the Chargers, then received the benefit of a first-round playoff. As a result, he should be fresh for Sunday's home matchup against the Browns in the divisional round. Opposing cornerbacks Denzel Ward (illness) and Kevin Johnson (illness) both came of the reserve/COVID-19 list Wednesday, so Mahomes will face the challenge of taking on a fully healthy secondary while also avoiding a pass rush led by Myles Garrett (shoulder).

Mahomes is officially inactive for Sunday's game against the Chargers, Adam Teicher of ESPN.com reports.

Mahomes will sit this one out, with Kansas City having secured a first-round playoff bye. Filling in for him as the team's starting QB on Sunday will be Chad Henne, with Matt Moore set to serve as his backup in Week 17.

Coach Andy Reid said Wednesday that Mahomes will sit out Sunday's regular-season finale against the Chargers, Sam McDowell of The Kansas City Star reports.

Mahomes will get a week of rest with the Chiefs already having secured the AFC's No. 1 playoff seed, allowing Chad Henne to draw the start. Reid said he'll sit some of the Chiefs' other key regulars as well, so players like Tyreek Hill (hamstring), Travis Kelce and Chris Jones also seem destined to miss the regular-season finale as the Chiefs prioritize health above all else heading into the postseason.