Why is Patrick Mahomes hobbling? Chiefs QB picked up ankle injury vs. Jaguars

Patrick Mahomes was at his imperious best in the first quarter of the Kansas City Chiefs' divisional-round game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He completed 12 of his 14 pass attempts for 84 yards and also found Travis Kelce for the game's opening touchdown.

But during the Chiefs' second offensive drive, Mahomes managed to escape the Jaguars' pass rush and threw a pass. However, in the aftermath, Jacksonville's Arden Key landed on the quarterback's ankle, causing him to limp heavily.

Mahomes hobbled to the bench and had his ankle taped, and was visibly struggling to put weight on his ankle. But he soldiered on and stayed in the game, setting up a 50-yard field goal attempt for Harrison Butker, which the kicker converted to help the Chiefs retake the lead.

Per NBC Sports, Mahomes waved off the Chiefs' medical staff, insisting he was fine. The star quarterback was seemingly prepared to play despite the injury, but the pain was too much for him to handle as he was escorted to the locker room with five minutes left in the second quarter.

NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported that Mahomes had an X-Ray scan in the locker room and was diagnosed with a high ankle sprain. The quarterback is pushing through the pain and playing in the second half.

Chiefs' backup quarterback: Chad Henne enters game after Patrick Mahomes' injury

With Patrick Mahomes receiving treatment, 37-year-old Chad Henne is under center for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Henne was a second-round pick in the 2008 NFL draft. He spent four seasons with the Miami Dolphins before joining the Jacksonville Jaguars. He spent five seasons in Florida before being signed by Andy Reid in 2018. He is in his fourth season with the Chiefs and has started only one game for the franchise.

Henne's most famous play as a Chief was a 4th down pass against the Cleveland Browns during the 2020-21 NFL playoffs.

With Kansas City facing 4th-and-inches from its 49-yard line late in the fourth quarter, Reid went for it, and Henne completed the pass to effectively end the game.