Patrick Mahomes, among trio of injured KC Chiefs Sunday, later says, ‘I feel fine now’

The Chiefs almost lost more than their pride in Sunday’s 27-3 loss to the Tennessee Titans.

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes went down in an awkward and scary fashion midway through the fourth quarter as he was being sacked by Titans defensive end Denico Autry.

After the game, Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Mahomes entered the concussion protocol and was cleared. But Mahomes did not re-enter the game, with Chad Henne under center instead.

“I decided not to put him back in,” Reid said.

The sack initially appeared relatively harmless until another Titans defender caught Mahomes in the head and neck area as the quarterback was going down in Autry’s grasp. That blow caused Mahomes to remain the ground for a brief period before teammates and Chiefs staff helped off the field.

Once on the sideline, Mahomes walked under his own power to the blue medical tent, where he was cleared before emerging and spending the rest of the game on the sideline.

By that point, with the Chiefs well out of the contest, Mahomes’ backup took the remaining snaps.

Mahomes indicated after the game he was feeling OK.

“I feel fine now,” he said.

Mahomes’ final line through the air: 20 of 35 for 206 yards and an interception. He also lost a fumble and was sacked four times and hit nine times.

And Mahomes wasn’t the only injury of note for the Chiefs Sunday.

Reid said defensive lineman Chris Jones suffered a groin strain and safety Tyrann Mathieu “hurt his ribs a little bit.”

Jones’ injury is concerning because Sunday’s game marked his return to action after he’d missed the Chiefs’ two previous games with a wrist injury.

Jones’ status for Week 8 won’t likely be known until later in the week, when the Chiefs return to practice in preparation for Monday night’s home game against the New York Giants.