Mahomes Plays Through Elbow Injury After Brutal Hit by Jets Rookie

Patrick Mahomes played through an elbow injury during the Kansas City Chiefs’ 35-12 victory over the New York Jets, according to the New York Post ^[1]. The quarterback remained on the field despite visible pain after a hit that forced a fumble in the first half.

The incident occurred during a two-minute drill when Jets rookie David Bailey rushed from the outside and connected with Mahomes’ right arm. Mahomes grabbed his elbow as he walked off, but returned for the final drive of the opening half. He completed a pass to Travis Kelce on the first play of that possession, showing no signs of slowing down.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid addressed the situation during the CBS broadcast, stating that Mahomes hurt his elbow and it was sore. Reid praised Mahomes as a tough kid who came back to play. The injury scare comes just a season after Mahomes underwent surgery to repair a torn ACL and LCL, returning in time for Week 1.

The Chiefs, who started the season with five straight wins before dropping two, moved to secure the win with Mahomes connecting with running back Kenneth Walker III for two touchdowns. Mahomes finished the game with 242 passing yards on 23-for-31 passing by the fourth quarter. The victory helps stabilize the team’s position in the AFC West, where they sat in second place entering Sunday.

Backup Justin Fields, who played for the Jets in 2025, would have entered the game had Mahomes been unable to continue. Fields was traded to the Chiefs in March for a sixth-round pick. Mahomes has thrown for 1,795 yards and 12 touchdowns this season, with only four interceptions through seven games. The Chiefs’ defense and offense combined to dominate a Jets offense that struggled to convert drives into points.