Analysis

Mahomes has been managing a mild high-ankle sprain since suffering the injury in a Week 15 win over the Browns, but he's proceeded to play in both of the Chiefs' last two contests while turning in two of his best performances of the season. His listed limitations for Wednesday are likely maintenance-related more than anything and won't have any bearing on his status for Sunday's regular-season finale versus the Broncos, with head coach Andy Reid having indicated that Mahomes will be rested for the contest. With the Chiefs having clinched the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs, Mahomes will get some extra time to heal in Week 18 before returning to action in the divisional round of the postseason. Carson Wentz is slated to draw the start at quarterback Sunday in Denver.

Analysis

Reid confirmed that Carson Wentz will direct the offense in Week 18, with the coach noting that the decision to rest Mahomes wasn't a difficult decision with the Chiefs having clinched the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs, per Nate Taylor of The Athletic. With Kansas City having earned a first-round bye, Mahomes' next game action won't come until the divisional round of the playoffs on Jan. 18 or 19. An extended break should be beneficial for Mahomes, who suffered a mild high-ankle sprain Week 15 and had played through the injury in the Chiefs' last two contests.

Analysis

With their win over the Steelers on Christmas Day, the Chiefs clinched the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs and thus have little at stake in the regular-season finale. While head coach Andy Reid likely won't disclose his plans for how the team will approach the Denver game until later in the week, Glazer specifically mentions that Mahomes and Chris Jones (calf) -- both of whom have appeared on injury reports in recent games -- will be rested, along with any other key player nursing an injury. Mahomes sustained a mild high-ankle sprain in the Chiefs' Week 15 win over the Browns, but he's managed to play through the injury at a high level over the last two games, completing 72.2 percent of his passes for 580 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions and adding 45 yards and a score on the ground. Carson Wentz will likely step in as the starter next weekend, which would give Mahomes three weeks of healing time before the Chiefs' postseason opener in the divisional round.

Analysis

Mahomes went into a tough road environment in Pittsburgh on Christmas Day and gifted his managers with perhaps his best fantasy performance of the season. The win also cemented the Chiefs as the No. 1 seed in the AFC, earning the team a first-round bye in the playoff. For the second straight game, Mahomes played through the ankle injury he originally suffered Week 15, but the superstar quarterback seemed to be moving well in the pocket as well as on his 12-yard scamper in the second half. With nothing left to accomplish in the regular season, the Chiefs could opt to rest Mahomes in Week 18 versus the Broncos in order to preserve his health heading into the divisional round of the playoffs.

Analysis

Mahomes quickly demonstrated that the ankle sprain he suffered in the Week 15 win over the Browns isn't inhibiting his ability to run, as he scrambled for a 12-yard gain on Kansas City's eighth offensive play and added a 15-yard rushing touchdown three plays later. The star quarterback tacked on an eight-yard touchdown pass to Xavier Worthy in the third quarter as Kansas City improved to 14-1. The Chiefs need one win over their last two games or a Buffalo loss to clinch the No. 1 seed in the AFC and a first-round bye. Unless the Bills lose to the 3-11 Patriots on Sunday, Mahomes won't be rested against the Steelers on Christmas.

Analysis

Mahomes, who was listed as a full practice participant Tuesday through Thursday, thus is cleared to start versus Houston. In terms of how the QB looked at practice this week, head coach Andy Reid noted that Mahomes "did look good out there. He moved around pretty good," while wideout DeAndre Hopkins said that Kansas City's QB looked "like he always does.'' With Mahomes' availability confirmed, the team also appears poised to welcome back speedy wideout Hollywood Brown (shoulder, no injury designation) who is on IR but is expected to be activated by the Chiefs ahead of Week 16 action.

Analysis

Mahomes sustained a high-ankle sprain during Sunday's win over the Browns, but the issue is clearly less severe than the injury he suffered two years ago during the divisional round of the AFC playoffs. The star quarterback managed to practice in full Wednesday, potentially putting him on track to head into Week 16 action without an injury designation at all. Meanwhile, Reid also offered optimism that wide receiver Hollywood Brown (shoulder) will be activated from IR and make his season debut versus Houston on Saturday, Pete Sweeney of ArrowheadPride.com reports.

Analysis

Mahomes was listed the same way Tuesday after taking part in a walk-through practice, telling reporters beforehand that his high-ankle sprain is less of an issue than the one he played through during the playoffs two years ago. He's on track to play against the Texans on Saturday, albeit with a slightly lesser rushing projection than usual in light of the injury he suffered during the fourth quarter of a 21-7 win over the Browns this past Sunday.

Analysis

Kansas City didn't hold a rigorous practice session to kick off Week 16 prep just two days after Sunday's 21-7 win over the Browns, but Mahomes' full listing nonetheless suggests that he's on track to play Saturday against the Texans. The quarterback was diagnosed with a mild right high-ankle sprain following his early exit from Sunday's win in Cleveland, but Mahomes told Sam McDowell of The Kansas City Star prior to Tuesday's session that he has responded "better quicker" to his latest injury than to the high-ankle sprain he sustained in the divisional round of the AFC playoffs two years ago.