Bills vs Chiefs Injury Report and COVID Updates for AFC Championship Game – Mahomes Cleared to Play

• The Buffalo Bills visit the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday night at Arrowhead Stadium
• Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes cleared the NFL’s concussion protocol Friday and will start
• The Chiefs are favored by three points and a full injury roundup can be found below

Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs will host the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday night at Arrowhead Stadium.

Emphasis on Mahomes.

The Chiefs are three-point favorites to defend their AFC title against the Bills, who have not reached the conference championship game in 28 years. The official injury report from the NFL for the game has been released. How are those injuries likely to affect the game?

Bills Injury Report | Chiefs Injury Report

Bills Injury Report

All information taken from NFL’s official injury report.

Rookie Wideout Questionable

Bills rookie wide receiver Gabriel Davis (ankle) and defensive tackle Vernon Butler (thigh) both practiced Friday on a limited basis after being held out Wednesday and Thursday.

Davis has been a deep threat for Josh Allen, averaging 17.1 yards per reception and scoring seven touchdowns on 35 catches during the regular season.

WHAT A CATCH 🤯

Gabriel Davis has the Bills back in front late in the 4th!

(via @BuffaloBills) pic.twitter.com/AHz5la7D9K

— ESPN (@espn) September 20, 2020

In the playoffs, Davis has added four receptions for 85 yards, though he was not targeted in the Bills’ 17-3 victory over the Baltimore Ravens last week in the divisional round.

Butler started the last 11 regular-season games and both postseason games as part of a four-man rotation on the interior line.

Wide receivers Stefon Diggs (oblique) and Cole Beasley (knee) both practiced in full Friday and will start Sunday.

Allen and Diggs already humming 💪 @JoshAllenQB @stefondiggs @BuffaloBills

📺 #BALvsBUF on NBC pic.twitter.com/6A5WbPslLy

— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) January 17, 2021

Diggs led the NFL and set franchise records with 127 receptions and 1,535 receiving yards in the regular season to go with eight touchdowns. Beasley had 82 catches for 967 yards and four TDs.

Chiefs Injury Report

Mahomes Clears Protocol

Mahomes practiced for a third straight day for Kansas City, clearing the NFL’s concussion protocol and ensuring he will be able to start Sunday.

Mahomes was injured in the third quarter last Sunday of the Chiefs’ 22-17 win over the Cleveland Browns at home in a divisional-round playoff game. He was hurt when tackled around the head by Mack Wilson while running an option play.

Patrick Mahomes says he’s cleared concussion protocol.

He's good to go Sunday. pic.twitter.com/QE0j88kqra

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 22, 2021

After winning the NFL MVP in 2018 and the Super Bowl MVP last season, Mahomes has been spectacular again.

He completed 66.3% of his passes in the regular season for 4,740 yards 38 touchdowns with six interceptions. Against the Browns, Mahomes was 21 of 30 for 255 yards and one TD before Chad Henne finished the game.

In five career playoff games at Arrowhead, Mahomes has thrown 12 touchdown passes, ran for three TDs and not be intercepted.

Rookie running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire (high ankle sprain) practiced for a third straight Friday. Though listed as questionable, he is expected to play. The first-round draft pick missed the last two games of the regular season as well as sitting out last Sunday.

Video from Patrick Mahomes at #Chiefs practice today. Clyde Edwards-Helaire also at practice today. pic.twitter.com/M2ijYZwUfX

— Harold R. Kuntz (@HaroldRKuntz3) January 21, 2021

Edwards-Helaire has had a fine debut year, rushing for 803 yards and four touchdowns on 181 carries and catching 36 passes for 297 yards and a score. He had his best game in a 26-17 win over the Bills in Week 6 when he ran for a career-high 161 yards.

Cornerback Bashaud Breeland, who was also concusses against the Browns, is also listed as questionable as well as Bell and wide receiver Sammy Watkins (thigh). Those three are also expected to play, though rookie linebacker Willie Gay Jr. (high ankle sprain) has been ruled out.

Bell signed with Chiefs on Oct. 15 following his released by the New York Jets. The three-time Pro Bowl selection has carried 63 times for 254 yards and two touchdowns in nine while catching 13 passes for 99 yards.

Le'Veon Bell’s 1st carry as a Chief🍿

pic.twitter.com/C3ht0kP2ah

— PFF (@PFF) October 25, 2020

Watkins was limited to 10 games in the regular season when he had 37 catches for 421 yards and two TDs. He also missed the Browns’ game.

Gay started half of the Chiefs’ 16 regular-season games, registering 39 tackles (including three for loss), a sack and a forced fumble.

How Will The Odds Be Impacted?

Even with Mahomes’ status in question, the oddsmakers seemed confident all alonig that he would play Sunday. The line stayed steady all week and doesn’t figure to change significantly.