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Mahomes says he's out of the concussion protocol, will play

Posted at 2:19 PM, Jan 22, 2021
and last updated 2021-01-22 15:38:22-05

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes will play in the AFC Championship against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.

In a news conference Friday, Mahomes said he cleared the concussion protocol.

"Yeah, I actually just got out of the protocol," he said. "The week has just been a bunch of testing, a bunch of different things just to make sure I'm good to go and there's no lingering effects or anything like that."

Mahomes on concussion

Minutes before the announcement, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said Mahomes "should be good" to go Sunday if he cleared the final step of the NFL's concussion protocol.

"They should be good to go if they pass that part I believe, so that's the next step," Reid said, referring to a check by a doctor.

The quarterback was in protocol this week after going down in the second half of the AFC Divisional game against the Cleveland Browns.

Mahomes first returned to the practice field on Wednesday and has practiced every day since then.

On Friday, linebacker Willie Gay (ankle) and running back Le'Veon Bell (knee) did not practice.

The Chiefs will kick off against the Bills at 5:40 p.m. Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium.