Chiefs News 12/17: Tom Brady offers advice to Patrick Mahomes about rehab

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Patrick Mahomes ACL injury: Tom Brady offers rehab advice, recovery insight | CBS Sports

The host of the podcast, Jim Gray, then asked Brady what he would tell Mahomes if he could offer any advice about

coming back from a torn ACL. The NFL legend said it’s all about attacking the process.

“The only thing you can do is focus on what’s ahead of you and not look back,” Brady said. “And just say, ‘OK, this is part of what my career is going to be and a lot of people have gone through it and a lot of people have overcome it.’ You’ve just got to put as much diligence into the rehab process. And I always feel like the faster you rehab, the faster you can get back to practicing the sport that you love.

“I think sometimes people will pace themselves. Instead of training mode, they’re in rehab mode. I think you gotta get through rehab mode as fast as possible and then you get back to training mode. But that requires an all-out commitment and it’s the same commitment that the great professional athletes make to be great at their profession. When you go through the rehab process, you need that same level of focus and determination.”

4 Quarterbacks That Could Replace Patrick Mahomes in 2026 – Page 4 of 5 | Last Word on NFL

2. Joe Flacco

The ageless wonder keeps bouncing around the league and played well for large stretches of time this year. While his stint with the Browns was relatively unremarkable, he looked like a legitimate starter during his time in Cincinnati. Flacco can’t carry an offense on his own, but he can get the most out of talented playmakers.

There is no Ja’Marr Chase on the Chiefs, but Rashee Rice is one of the league’s better wide receivers, and the supporting cast isn’t too bad. Flacco wants to be a starter, but if he can’t get a full-time job, perhaps he’d settle for keeping the ship afloat while Patrick Mahomes recovers.

I tore my ACL in the NFL. This is what it takes mentally to come back | The Athletic

Every single day I tried to come to rehab with the mentality that “I’ve got to get just a little bit healthier today, even if it’s going to suck.” We all face adversity in a lot of different ways. I was primed for it. My career started off with adversity. Didn’t get drafted, made it as a backup quarterback to Tom Brady with the Patriots, got cut in New England and was out of football for 10 weeks. This injury was another thing to overcome.

I played in New England for Bill Belichick. Every day was adversity. He created it that way, and that’s why those teams were so tough. At some point, the mental side takes over the physical. If you don’t have that, you’re going to break. During rehab, I drew on that experience.

2026 NFL mock draft: Giants trade No. 1 pick, Dolphins add playmaker | CBS Sports

Round 1 – Pick 12
Francis Mauigoa OT
Miami (Fla.) • Jr • 6’6″ / 335 lbs
Given how this season ended for the Chiefs, the front office may very well want to make sure Patrick Mahomes is never in the firing line behind a UDFA offensive tackle again. Mauigoa would pair with Trey Smith on the right side to create one brutish double-team combo.

Five heartbreaking plays that perfectly explain the Chiefs’ 2025 collapse | Arrowhead Addict

4. A fourth-down attempt vs. Houston

As the past few weeks have come and gone, each has had its own “must-win” feel to it, but it all really heated up against Houston just two games ago on Sunday night. That game featured quite a few mishaps for Reid’s offense, but none more detrimental to the game and the season than the fourth-down attempt late in the game.

With just over 10 minutes to go in the game, the score tied 10-10, Kansas City’s offense was on its own 31-yard line and only needed one yard to convert. This was prime territory for Kareem Hunt, who has become a sure thing in short-yardage situations.

Instead, Coach Reid calls a play that puts Mahomes alone in shotgun with Hunt on the line and four receivers to his right in a bunch formation. After Hollywood Brown moves into the backfield in motion, Mahomes feels pressure from his right and, in a crumbling pocket, darts a low pass to Rashee Rice, who could never get a good hand on it.

The play never looked like it was going to work, and with the defense that Houston kept bringing to Mahomes’ face, it never really had a chance anyway. In the end, it led to the Texans’ second touchdown of the night in a game that saw KC fall to 6-7 by a score of 20-10.

Around the NFL

Jayden Daniels injury news: Commanders shut QB down for remainder of 2025 season | CBS Sports

The Washington Commanders hoped star quarterback Jayden Daniels would return this season after he re-aggravated his elbow injury in Week 14, but they since shifted course. Washington will shut down the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year, and allow Marcus Mariota to finish out the season at quarterback, according to CBS Sports NFL insider Jonathan Jones.

Washington’s medical staff re-evaluated Daniels today, but he did not receive clearance to return, NFL Media reports. If he was not cleared for the Week 16 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, Daniels’ next opportunity to play would have come on a short week against the Dallas Cowboys. Ultimately, the Commanders just shut him down.

Less than one month ago, Commanders coach Dan Quinn said he wanted Daniels to play when healthy in order to develop — no matter if Washington was in playoff contention or not.

“I think it’s important as Jayden’s … learning to play this position at the highest level competitively, also doing it safely, and those are reps, you know, that you develop as well,” Quinn said.. “It’s a skill, just like throwing and processing. And so, all those things are important.”

Jets release receiver Allen Lazard after three seasons | ESPN

The New York Jets severed their last tie to the ill-fated Aaron Rodgers era by releasing wide receiver Allen Lazard on Tuesday.

Lazard, 30, a healthy scratch in four games, had no consistent role on offense and asked to be released with the hope of landing with a contender, a source told ESPN. The Jets (3-11), committed to evaluating their young receivers, obliged.

He didn’t live up to expectations after signing a four-year, $44 million contract in 2023, one of the moves designed to help lure Rodgers to New York. Lazard and Rodgers developed a connection during their five seasons together with the Green Bay Packers.

Josh Allen is making a late run in the MVP odds | NBC Sports

The 2024 NFL MVP, after another impressive performance against the Patriots on Sunday, is making a late push in the betting odds for the league’s top regular-season award.

The Bills quarterback has moved to +525, third in the stack behind Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (-300) and Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (+425).

With three games left, more changes could be coming. And the betting odds are relevant because they operate as, essentially, a poll of those who are sufficiently invested to wager their money on it.

They’re even more relevant because, ultimately, the award isn’t decided by objective on-field facts. The 50 voters will cast ballots that determine the outcome. The Associated Press, which won’t list the names of the 50 voters until after the awards are announced, collects the votes in the days after the regular season ends.

In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride

Before Week 16 matchup, Titans show respect for Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes

Although Kansas City’s postseason hopes are gone, three games remain on the schedule. The next one is a trip to Nashville to face the Tennessee Titans, whose rookie quarterback Cam Ward expressed disappointment at losing the opportunity to face the three-time Super Bowl MVP.

“It’s sad, because since he got into the league he’s been very productive every year,” he said after the Titans’ 37-24 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. “Not getting an opportunity to go against him? Everything happens for a reason; I know God has a plan for him. Prayers his way.”

Defensive tackle Jeffrey Simmons also offered thoughts on the Chiefs’ injured starter.

“It’s always great when I have a chance to play against him,” he said. “ [He’s] very competitive. It sucks to see him go down like that. I heard it was kind of a nasty injury, so prayers to him.”

During his Monday media availability, the Titans’ interim head coach Mike McCoy expressed his regret over the injury, calling it one of the unfortunate realities of NFL life.

“It’s really an unfortunate situation,” noted McCoy. “We wish nothing but the best for Pat — and a speedy recovery. We know [that] with who he is, he’ll be back stronger than ever. But this is the bad part of the business.”