Mahomes returns after elbow injury to lead Chiefs past Jets

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes returned to the field and led his team forward on Sunday against the New York Jets, despite suffering what appeared to be a serious injury to his right (throwing) arm.

As he was winding up to throw a deep pass, New York Jets edge rusher David Bailey hit him. Instead, his arm hit Bailey as the defender closed in on Mahomes. The ball fluttered to the ground as an apparent fumble.

Mahomes was left on his knees, grasping his right elbow, in obvious pain. The injury looked as though it would end his game.

But the shocking thing was that Mahomes returned to the game. On Kansas City's next series he came back and threw a completion to tight end Travis Kelce. Then he scrambled up the middle for a 7-yard gain.

Despite seeming to favor the arm as he tried to make throws on the sideline, Mahomes returned to the game.

After halftime, which almost definitely included another evaluation of Mahomes' elbow, the quarterback went back in the game. And he helped the Chiefs drive for a touchdown and a 21-12 lead.

It is clear that Mahomes avoided a UCL tear because such an injury to his elbow would prevent him from throwing the football. San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy suffered such an injury in the playoffs several years ago.

Earlier, Mahomes had faced troubling questions about a serious knee injury on the first drive of the Chiefs season. He is so obsessive about knee rehab that he takes a trainer with him when he leaves town.