Patrick Mahomes leads all NFL quarterbacks in rushing yards through the first two games of the season.
Mahomes’ increased running may be a sign of desperation due to a depleted wide receiver corps and offensive struggles.
Coach Andy Reid expressed concern about the number of hits Mahomes is taking, despite recognizing his competitive nature.
KANSAS CITY, MO – Crazylegs?
If he keeps this up, Patrick Lavon Mahomes II might be destined to add another distinction to his remarkable NFL resume: Thousand-yard rusher.
The Kansas City Chiefs star not only leads his team in rushing – his 123 yards is the most he’s ever had through two games – but has also run for more yards than any quarterback in the league. More than Lamar Jackson. More than Josh Allen, Justin Fields, Jayden Daniels and Jalen Hurts. Granted, it’s way early. But he’s on pace to run for 1,045 yards. Whoa.
No, it is hardly the plan for Mahomes to become a modern-day version of Elroy “Crazylegs” Hirsch. As the Chiefs (0-2) head to the Meadowlands for a Sunday night matchup against the New York Giants, Mahomes’ running has a distinct, half-full/half-empty flow about it.
Sure, in a game where mobile quarterbacks can break down a defense in a heartbeat, Mahomes’ legs are lethal weapons that complement his magnificent arm. Yet for a unit that has lacked explosive plays and rhythm while stung by a depleted wide receiver corps, Mahomes’ running screams of desperation.
“It’s just kind of happening,” Mahomes said after the loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, when his regular-season career-high 66 rushing yards on seven carries included a 13-yard touchdown dive to the pylon.
“At the end of the day, I’m a competitor. I’m just trying to win. Whatever it takes, I’ll do. It’s been running a few times, early this season. We’ll get back to passing the ball and hopefully be better at it as the season rolls along.”
Extenuating circumstances have clearly had an effect as Mahomes is tied for 15th in the NFL for passing yards (445) and 24th for pass efficiency (82.0). Kansas City’s top receiver, Rashee Rice, is serving a six-game suspension stemming from his 2024 freeway-racing auto crash, while Xavier Worthy hasn’t played since suffering a dislocated shoulder during a collision with tight end Travis Kelce on the first series in the season opener. Timing issues in the passing game were glaring during the setback on Sunday, and it hasn’t helped that running backs Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt have not exactly picked up the slack.
Under these conditions, it seems that Mahomes, who turned 30 on Wednesday, has tried to fill in gaps with his legs while searching for answers.
The 0-2 Kansas City Chiefs are in staggering unchartered territory in Patrick Mahomes era
“The one big scramble I had early in the game, if I had waited just a little bit longer, JuJu (Smith-Schuster) ended up opening in a spot,” Mahomes said, referring to his season-long, 22-yard scramble in the second quarter on Sunday. “If I had stretched my drop I would’ve probably hit JuJu for the same distance.
“That’s stuff I’ve got to do better at. Trusting the guys that they’re going to get open and trusting the offensive line and their blocking. So, taking what the defense is giving you and then let guys make plays down the field.”
If it were only so easy. Usually, Mahomes, who rushed for 57 yards in the season opener against the Los Angeles Chargers, saves his most prolific running for the do-or-die stakes of the postseason. His career high of 69 yards came in the 2021 AFC divisional playoff against Buffalo and the only other time he ran for 66 yards occurred in the Super Bowl 58 triumph against San Francisco. Yet in the first two games this season, he’s been more prone than normal to bolt from the pocket to take advantage of defenses that have left him unaccounted for while blanketing his targets with man-to-man coverage.
Still, Chiefs Kingdom probably held its collective breath late in the first half on Sunday, when Mahomes lowered his shoulder on rookie safety Andrew Mukuba in the open field to convert on a third down in the red zone. On the next play, he scrambled for his touchdown.
“I usually don’t try to run over big guys,” Mahomes said. “I can kind of hit and fall forward, not run over. But I think I do a good job of protecting myself and yet (you have to) be smart in those situations. I just learn from experience.”
Chiefs coach Andy Reid maintained, “I don’t want to see him get the big hits,” yet also recognizes what he’s dealing with: an ultra-competitor.
“He’ll probably tell you the same thing, He trains that way,” Reid said. “He goes after it, and he’s not going to not take an opportunity if it’s given.”
Reid’s point about training brings to mind insight Mahomes shared about his offseason regimen during a training camp interview with USA TODAY Sports. As his 30th birthday approached, part of the focus in working with his longtime trainer, Bobby Stroupe, involved trying to better gird for the contact that comes with his hazardous duty. On top of absorbing and reacting to contact, he sought to strengthen his ankles, given injuries in recent years.
“We always modify what I do, based on the things I was presented the year before,” Mahomes said. “So, being able to do different ankle mobility stuff off ankle injuries and stuff like that. As my body changes, I may not have the same amount of speed, so adding a little more acceleration. Stuff like that, to make sure I stay on top of that. But we modify my training every year, based off the film study and what we see the year before.”
Well, the fresh film this season may be rather revealing, too. It undoubtedly illuminates how the Chiefs’ quintessential hero needs to be subjected to only so many blows – and can use a bit more help in trying to help a once-prolific offense get its groove back.
Contact Jarrett Bell at jbell@usatoday.com or follow on social media: On X: @JarrettBell
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