They often say absence makes the heart grow fonder, but Chris Canty believes absence reveals “how bad the Kansas City Chiefs are” and how much they “deserved” Patrick Mahomes.
The former NFL defensive lineman and current ESPN analyst criticized the Chiefs for not adequately protecting Mahomes this season, especially after he suffered a season-ending ACL injury during Sunday’s game against the Chargers.
Mahomes, who is 30, had surgery on Monday, yet there are lingering questions about his readiness for next year.
“This season has really highlighted the mistakes made within that franchise over the years. They’ve taken Patrick Mahomes’ greatness for granted,” Canty remarked on Tuesday’s “First Take.”
He went on to say, “We’ll see just how bad the Kansas City Chiefs are in the next three weeks of the regular season.” That hesitation is valid; it’s not like they’re protecting their franchise player. Mahomes is, surprisingly, the second-most contacted quarterback this year. Shockingly, no quarterback has faced more hits during dropbacks than he has over the last three seasons.
Moreover, Canty pointed out that during this same timeframe, the Chiefs’ receivers led the league in drops, while the team ranked 22nd in rushing. “So, your quarterback is left without protection, reliable receivers, or a solid running game to rely on?” he questioned.
The former Giant didn’t stop there, insisting that every decision-maker in Kansas City needs to reevaluate their choices. “They must genuinely work to support Patrick Mahomes by improving his roster,” he stated. “Until then, we’ll continue to watch one of the most talented quarterbacks in NFL history struggle to return to the heights we saw in his first seven years.”
And, to complicate matters, reports surfaced on Monday that Mahomes not only tore his ACL but also his LCL. So, it seems like the road ahead might be more challenging than anyone initially thought.
