The Kansas City Chiefs had a sure lead against the Cleveland Browns when the only thing that couldn’t happen to them was. They lost Patrick Muhammad.
Muhammad left with a concussion. The bosses almost blew it up. Then, Chad Henne, Muhammad’s backup, got a couple of unlikely plays to seal another 22-17 victory and send Kansas City to the AFC Championship.
But before the Chiefs organize the Buffalo Bills in this game to get a spot in the Super Bowl, there is a pending question: will Muhammad be available to play?
The odds are not high. From 2015 to 2019, NFL quarterbacks maintained an average of seven days after suffering a concussion in a game, according to the league. The AFC Championship is exactly one week after Sunday’s game, which means Muhammad would have to return earlier than normal to play.
Nor is it as simple as saying Muhammad feels ready to play. It is not in their hands. Nor is it in the hands of the team.