When Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes struggled to stand during Sunday’s AFC playoff game, some of his teammates weren’t happy with Cleveland Browns linebacker Mack Wilson after his tackle had left the QB wobbly and disoriented.
After the game, the former Alabama standout’s teammates came to his defense, telling reporters that Wilson wasn’t a dirty player. Wilson took to social media to defend himself and wish Mahomes well, and the quarterback replied: “All good, brother!”
Some Chiefs fans directed their anger toward Wilson, too, including Mahomes’ mother, who wanted Wilson disqualified from the game.
Wilson responded with an explanation, which seemed to soothe Randi Mahomes.
Although Patrick Mahomes left Sunday’s game midway through the third quarter, the Chiefs still defeated the Browns 22-17 to end Wilson’s second NFL season.
Wilson got off to a delayed start in 2020.
When Wilson went down at practice on Aug. 18 with a “significantly hyperextended left knee,” the Browns feared he would miss the 2020 season. The injury ended up costing Wilson the first two games of the regular season, and he played only six snaps in the third.
After that, Wilson played in 14 of Cleveland’s 15 games with eight starts. Wilson ended up playing 35 percent of the Brown’s defensive snaps. He had 39 tackles, one tackle for loss and two pass breakups in 2020
While Wilson played a smaller role for the Brown in his second season than might have been expected before his injury, the former Carver-Montgomery star had played a larger role than anticipated in his rookie season.
A fifth-round draft choice, Wilson entered the starting lineup when Christian Kirksey got hurt in the second game of 2019. Wilson went on to finish second on the Browns with 944 defensive snaps and 82 tackles last season, when he also had four tackles for loss, one sack, two quarterback hits, seven pass breakups and one forced fumble.
The Chiefs advanced to the AFC Championship Game as they seek their second straight trip to the Super Bowl. Kansas City is scheduled to play the Buffalo Bills at 5:40 p.m. CST Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. CBS will televise the game.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid told reporters on Monday that Mahomes was in the NFL’s concussion protocol.
“We’ll just follow that and see how he does here in the next couple days,” Reid said. “… I just leave that with (athletic trainer) Rick (Burkholder) and the docs. Because of the protocol, it’s a no-brainer for the coaching staff. You don’t have to think about it. I can’t tell you from a medical standpoint where he’s at. I don’t know that.”
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.
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