KANSAS CITY, Mo. _ Chiefs coach Andy Reid delivered good news Monday regarding Patrick Mahomes' hand injury.
"Patrick's hand is OK," Reid said. "It's bruised up pretty good. But there's no break in it."
Asked if Mahomes will be the starter for Sunday's home game against the Denver Broncos, Reid said, "Right now, most likely yes. Let's see how he does the next couple of days."
Mahomes suffered the injury to his right (throwing) hand during the first quarter of the Chiefs' 23-16 victory at the New England Patriots Sunday. He seemed to land awkwardly on it. Mahomes had an x-ray right after the game.
"It doesn't feel great right now, but it's something that you play with," Mahomes said. "In this sport, you're going to bang something. So for me, it's about going out there and competing and relying on my teammates to help me out whenever I'm not feeling 100 percent."
Mahomes completed 26 of 40 passes for 283 yards with a touchdown and an interception. The 48-yard scoring pass to Mecole Hardman occurred after Mahomes suffered the injury.
"He was having a tough time gripping the ball," Reid said.
Because of that, the Chiefs called for shorter routes, Reid said.
It's been a tough year in terms of injuries for the second-year starter. Mahomes missed two starts earlier this season because of a dislocated kneecap and he suffered an ankle injury in the Chiefs' season opener at Jacksonville.
In other news Monday, Reid said the Chiefs had a fake punt called Sunday when miscommunication led to the Patriots' block of Dustin Colquitt's attempt. It marked the first blocked punt against the Chiefs since Reid's first game on the Kansas City sideline, at Jacksonville in 2013.
