Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes 'Likely' to Play vs. Texans amid Ankle Injury, Andy Reid Says

Patrick Mahomes' high-ankle sprain may not be enough to keep the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback off the field for Saturday's game against the Houston Texans.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid told reporters Thursday that Mahomes will "most likely end up playing" after working out in full this week, per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

The news comes after ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported Wednesday that Mahomes was planning to play against the Texans.

"The sense I get is that Mahomes does indeed plan to play," Fowler reported Wednesday. "He knows how to protect himself well, and the ankle would need to be in bad shape later in the week for him to sit."

Once news of Mahomes' injury surfaced, many fans assumed it was a matter of how much time he'll miss rather than whether he'd suit up against Houston. High-ankle sprains, even of the mild variety, can require multiple weeks of recovery.

But head coach Andy Reid indicated Tuesday the Chiefs and Mahomes are keeping their options open.

"He's going to go through some stuff and see how that works out for him," Reid said. "If he can't work, then Carson (Wentz) will take those reps."

Mahomes, for his part, said the ankle injury he experienced in the postseason against the Jacksonville Jaguars two seasons ago was worse than the one he has now.

For now, Kansas City still has something to play four. The Chiefs, 13-1, have clinched the AFC West but haven't yet sewn up the No. 1 seed in the conference. That will change if they beat or tie with the Texans and the Buffalo Bills lose to the New England Patriots.

Securing the top seed would be a nice luxury for the two-time reigning Super Bowl champions because they could rest Mahomes without any real consequence. Having him play though an ankle injury isn't ideal with the playoffs looming.

Getting Carson Wentz meaningful reps—he has thrown two passes this season—could also be beneficial if the worst-case scenario happens and Mahomes' ankle injury gets worse and rules him out mid-postseason.