The Kansas City bosses advanced to the third consecutive AFC championship game after a 22-17 victory over the Cleveland Browns. But the big question now is whether Patrick Mahomes will be allowed to play in the AFC Championship against Buffalo on Sunday.
There is no easy answer, as there is no set timeline for players to return from a commotion. It is possible that Muhammad will go through the concussion protocol within a week; it is just as likely that his symptoms will persist longer and be ruled out.
According to NFL data, which is being collected by healthcare company IQVIA, the average time for the 29 defenders who suffered a contusion between 2015-2019 to complete the concussion protocol and return to play was seven days.
But every contusion is different and every player who suffers a brain injury follows his own recovery timeline.
Here’s a look at NFL protocols, where Muhammad is now, and what steps to take:
What happened to Patrick Mahomes on Sunday?
Muhammad has been a clear candidate for concussion protocol since he was helped to his feet after a third-quarter injury. He looked dizzy and needed immediate assistance. He was first escorted to the chiefs ‘medical tent, where he underwent an initial assessment by the chiefs’ team doctor and an unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant. After that brief examination, Muhammad ran into the locker room for a full assessment of the concussion. The team soon announced that he was being evaluated for a concussion and was ruled out at the beginning of the fourth trimester.
This decision officially places Muhammad in the commotion protocol.
What happens next to Muhammad in the concussion protocol?
On Monday, Mahomes will have another contusion assessment, a standard protocol for any player who suffers a head injury during a game, and will begin a five-step process to be authorized to return to the game.
There is no set number of days for how long this process can take and it would be irresponsible to speculate on that timeline based on things like how quickly Muhammad got into the locker room or the tweets he sent after the game.
Good brother! 💪🏽 https://t.co/ORwLG6eFTV
– Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) January 17, 2021
What are the next steps for Muhammad?
According to NFL commotion protocols, rest comes first, an assessment of symptoms and light exercise. If you can handle light exercise without returning to symptoms (such as a headache or sensitivity to light), you will be eliminated for aerobic exercise, such as running on a treadmill or stationary cycling. There follows a return to weight training and some football exercises. It is common for a player who is still in this phase of the concussion protocol to be seen on the training ground working sideways with a strength and conditioning coach. If the symptoms did not return, Muhammad would have been allowed to resume football exercises without contact with his colleagues.
During these first four phases, Muhammad will undergo additional neurological tests and be allowed to return to full-contact football activities once his brain function returns to baseline levels, based on his pre-season neurological assessment.
Only if the symptoms remain at a distance in all these phases will Muhammad be allowed to return, either for full participation in the practice or for a game.
Who determines if Muhammad can play against Bills next week?
It will not depend on Muhammad. The medical staff of the chiefs will be the first to eliminate Muhammad, but this decision will have to be reviewed and confirmed by an independent neurologist.
(Photo: David Eulitt / Getty Images)