Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is cleared to start Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons after undergoing a specialized medical review of his elbow injury by two renowned baseball orthopedic surgeons.
The Chiefs consulted Dr. Vincent Key, head team physician for the Kansas City Royals and a specialist in Tommy John surgery and UCL repair techniques, and Dr. Keith Meister, team physician and orthopedic consultant for the Texas Rangers and a leading expert in elbow and shoulder injuries in baseball.
TOP NEWS
According to ESPN, both doctors reviewed Mahomes’ imaging scans and diagnosed a muscle strain and "a very small sprain of his UCL." All physicians involved—including the Chiefs’ own staff—concluded the injury was non-surgical and safe for Mahomes to play through, despite ongoing soreness and weekly treatment.
Mahomes practiced fully all week and is expected to start Sunday. The Chiefs sought baseball specialists because those physicians manage elbow injuries more frequently than football-focused orthopedists. Chiefs vice president of sports medicine and performance Rick Burkholder initiated contact with Key shortly after Kansas City’s victory over the New York Jets last Sunday. Key reviewed the scans and recommended Meister also examine them; Meister was contacted Sunday night and concurred with the assessment.
The evaluation came amid concern over the severity of the injury, particularly after Arizona Cardinals quarterback Gardner Minshew suffered a torn UCL on a similar play and is expected to undergo season-ending surgery, according to sources.
More: NFL · Atlanta Falcons
