Reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes picks up where he left off, despite sprained ankle

Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs offense picked up right where they left off last season: less than 90 seconds into the first game of the season, the reigning NFL most valuable player threw a touchdown pass.

The Chiefs are playing the Jacksonville Jaguars, and facing third-and-3 from their own 32, Mahomes, from the shotgun, took a short drop and found Sammy Watkins over the middle.

Watkins grabbed the ball, dropped his right shoulder and cut clean through the Jaguars’ defense, running into the end zone for a 68-yard touchdown.

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Mahomes threw 50 touchdowns last season, just the third quarterback to hit that number, but the only team that held him without a TD pass last season was Jacksonville, in Week 5. Kansas City did win that game, 30-14.

Mahomes and Watkins were just getting started - with 2:36 left in the first quarter, the pair linked up for another touchdown, this time a 49-yard strike. Watkins was wide open along the right sideline and Mahomes found him, giving the Chiefs a 17-7 lead.

Watkins had just three touchdowns in 10 games with the Chiefs last year.

Mahomes went on to finish 25 for 33, with 378 yards, 3 TDs and no interceptions in the Chiefs’ 40-26 win.

Mahomes survives injury scare

With just under nine minutes to play in the second quarter, the football world (or at least every single Chiefs fan) had a brief heart attack when Mahomes limped off the field with a left foot issue. He was at the bottom of a dog pile that resulted in a recovered fumble, a fight, and an ejection, but all anyone could care about was Mahomes limping and being led into the medical tent.

After a few moments in the tent, Mahomes emerged with his left foot taped up, and after testing it on the sideline, he reentered the game.

After the game, Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Mahomes had sprained his ankle and “is fine.”

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