Patrick Mahomes’ right-elbow MRI did not reveal a major injury after the Kansas City Chiefs’ 35-12 win over the New York Jets, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported. The elbow sprain will be monitored over the next few days for pain and swelling, according to NFL.com’s Week 9 injury roundup.
The result is a meaningful update to the postgame uncertainty, when Mahomes said he needed further tests. It is not the same as a confirmed practice clearance or a guarantee about his next appearance.
November 12 update: Chiefs list Mahomes as a full participant
Updated November 12, 2026, 3:18 am IST: The Chiefs’ official Wednesday injury report lists Patrick Mahomes as a full practice participant, with knee and right-elbow issues noted. That confirms the practice status Andy Reid had earlier expected.
Full participation is a practice designation, not a statement that the elbow is fully healed or a final game-day availability decision. Kansas City’s later injury reports remain the next checks before Sunday’s visit to Atlanta.
Earlier on Wednesday, Mahomes said his elbow was improving after treatment. “We’re in a better spot than we were after the game,” he said, according to KCTV5’s November 11 reporting. He said treatment would continue through the week as he prepared for the Falcons.
The official full-practice listing moves the story beyond Monday’s day-to-day assessment and the earlier expectation of participation. It does not justify a guarantee about his performance or condition on Sunday.
Reid calls Mahomes day to day
Chiefs coach Andy Reid said on November 9 that Mahomes is considered day to day, according to Associated Press. NFL.com’s Monday roundup reported that Reid described the imaging as more positive than negative and said the quarterback was dealing with soreness.
That adds the coach’s assessment to the earlier MRI reporting. Day to day is a monitoring status, not a formal game clearance; practice participation and further team updates remain the next checkpoints.
Update, November 10, 2026 (India): Added Reid’s November 9 day-to-day assessment. The original publication date and the earlier MRI report are preserved.
What happened to Mahomes?
Jets edge rusher David Bailey hit Mahomes’ throwing arm during a second-quarter strip-sack. Mahomes left the field holding his right elbow, warmed up on the sideline and returned for the next offensive series without missing an offensive snap.
He finished 23-of-31 for 242 yards and two touchdowns. Treatment, including work at halftime, helped him continue, although he said afterward that he initially was not throwing the ball as he wanted after the break.
What the MRI report changes
The initial story was about an injury scare and tests still to come. The subsequent MRI report gives Kansas City a more reassuring finding: no major injury was revealed. NBC Sports also reported Rapoport’s update, while CBS Sports reported that the MRI found no significant injury and that Mahomes would be monitored for pain and swelling.
Those reports should not be stretched into claims that his elbow is fully healed, that every possible problem has been ruled out or that a return-to-play decision has been announced. The next useful checkpoints are the team’s medical updates and practice participation.
Update, November 9, 2026 (India): This article was first published while further tests were pending. The headline and report have been updated with the subsequent MRI finding, attributed to NFL Network reporting.
Sources: NFL.com Week 9 injury roundup; NBC Sports MRI update; CBS Sports MRI update; NFL postgame media update.
