The Kansas City Chiefs advanced to their third consecutive game in the AFC championship after a 22-17 victory over the Cleveland Browns. But the big question now is whether Patrick Mahomes will be released to play in Sunday’s AFC championship game against Buffalo.
There is no easy answer, because there is no set schedule for players to return from a concussion. It is possible for Mahomes to go through the concussion protocol in a week; it is also possible that its symptoms will persist for a longer time and be discarded.
According to NFL concussion data, collected by health data company IQVIA, the average time for the 29 defenders who suffered concussion between 2015-2019 to complete the concussion protocol and return to play was seven days.
But each concussion is different, and each player who suffers a brain injury follows his own recovery schedule.
Here’s a look at the NFL protocols, where Mahomes is now and what steps to follow:
What happened to Patrick Mahomes on Sunday?
Mahomes was a clear candidate for the concussion protocol from the moment he was helped to his feet after a stroke in the third quarter. He looked stunned and needed immediate help. He was first escorted to the medical tent on the Chiefs ‘sideline, where he underwent an initial assessment by the Chiefs’ team doctor and an unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant. After that brief examination, Mahomes ran to the locker room for a complete assessment of the concussion. The team announced shortly afterwards that he was being evaluated for a concussion and, at the beginning of the fourth period, he was discarded.
This decision officially places Mahomes in the concussion protocol.
What happens next with Mahomes in the concussion protocol?
Mahomes will make another concussion assessment on Monday, the standard protocol for any player who suffers a head injury during a game, and will begin a five-step process to be released to resume playing.
There is no set number of days for how long this process can take, and it would be irresponsible to speculate about that schedule based on things like how quickly Mahomes entered the locker room or the tweets he sent after the game.
All the best, brother! 💪🏽 https://t.co/ORwLG6eFTV
– Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) January 17, 2021
What are the next steps for Mahomes?
According to the NFL’s concussion protocols, first comes rest, an assessment of symptoms and light exercise. If he can do light exercise without the return of symptoms (such as headache or sensitivity to light), he will be released for aerobic exercise, things like running on a treadmill or riding an exercise bike. Then comes a return to weight training and some football exercises. It is common for a player who is still at this stage of the concussion protocol to be seen on the training ground working alongside a strength and conditioning coach. If the symptoms did not return, Mahomes would be released to resume football exercises without contact with his teammates.
During these first four phases, Mahomes will undergo more neurological tests and will only be able to return to full contact football activities when his brain function returns to baseline levels, based on his pre-season neurological assessment.
Only if the symptoms remain under control during all these phases, will Mahomes be allowed to return, either for full participation in the practice or for a game.
Who determines whether Mahomes can play next week against Bills?
It will not be up to Mahomes. The Chief’s medical team will be the first to release Mahomes, but that decision will have to be reviewed and confirmed by an independent neurologist.
(Photo: David Eulitt / Getty Images)