Patrick Mahomes Injures Rashee Rice (Carted Off) After Interception – Doctor Explains | HO
Friendly fire from Patrick Mahomes running into Rashee Rice’s knee caused the Chiefs star receiver to be ruled out of the game vs the Chargers
Patrick Mahomes, the star quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs, made headlines recently when a play during a game led to a significant knee injury for wide receiver Rashee Rice. The injury, which happened as a result of what could only be described as “friendly fire,” occurred after Mahomes attempted to tackle a defender following an interception. The unfortunate event not only knocked Rashee Rice out of the game but also raised concerns about the long-term impact of the injury. The medical explanation provided by Dr. Brian Sutterer, a sports medicine expert, offers a deeper understanding of the injury’s mechanism and potential severity.
In the play that caused Rice’s injury, Patrick Mahomes threw an interception and, in a desperate attempt to tackle the defender, lowered his shoulder to try and stop the play. However, in doing so, he inadvertently collided with Rice, who was also moving toward the play. Mahomes’ shoulder made direct contact with Rice’s right knee, causing a hyperextension injury that led to Rice being carted off the field.
The nature of this injury is significant not just because of the way it happened, but also because it occurred during a moment of intense, split-second decision-making. Mahomes, not a player accustomed to making tackles, aimed low, as many quarterbacks do, but his body positioning and Rice’s movement created the perfect storm for injury.
Hyperextension injuries occur when a joint is pushed beyond its normal range of motion, forcing it in a direction that causes excessive strain on the surrounding ligaments, tendons, and muscles. In Rice’s case, his foot was firmly planted on the ground when Mahomes collided with his knee, causing his leg to be pushed backward into hyperextension.
Dr. Sutterer explained that the hyperextension likely resulted in a combination of injuries involving multiple structures within the knee. One of the most concerning possibilities is damage to the lateral collateral ligament (LCL) or even the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), which are crucial for knee stability.
According to Dr. Sutterer, when the knee is hyperextended, there is often significant strain on the back of the knee joint, particularly affecting the ligaments and the joint capsule, which is a protective lining around the knee. This type of injury can vary in severity, ranging from a minor sprain or tear to a more serious condition that could require surgery and an extended period of rehabilitation.
A critical aspect of understanding Rice’s injury is the mechanism of force that acted on his knee during the play. Dr. Sutterer highlights two important terms in the medical assessment of knee injuries: valgus and varus forces.
Valgus force refers to a force that pushes the knee inward, stretching the medial (inner) side of the knee, which often affects the medial collateral ligament (MCL).
Varus force, on the other hand, pushes the knee outward, stretching the lateral (outer) side of the knee, where the lateral collateral ligament (LCL) is located.
In Rice’s case, his knee was placed in a varus position due to the external rotation of his leg, combined with the downward force from Mahomes’ body. This outward force would have put significant stress on the lateral structures of the knee, including the LCL and the posterolateral corner (a group of ligaments that stabilize the outside of the knee). The potential for injury in this part of the knee is serious, as damage to the LCL or the posterolateral corner could lead to instability in the knee and require surgical intervention.
The fact that Rashee Rice was carted off the field immediately after the injury and was ruled out of the game so quickly raises concerns about the severity of the injury. As Dr. Sutterer noted, if the team’s medical staff was able to make a quick determination that Rice would not be returning to the game, it suggests that their initial physical examination indicated a significant problem.
In sports medicine, tests for ligament tears, such as the Lachman test for ACL injuries or stress tests for the LCL and PCL, can often give a clear indication of the extent of damage even before imaging tests like an MRI are conducted. The rapid decision to rule Rice out could be a sign that the injury is more severe than a simple strain or minor tear.
The range of possible outcomes for Rice’s injury spans from a best-case scenario of a few weeks of recovery to a worst-case scenario of surgery and a much longer rehabilitation period. If the injury is limited to a hyperextension with minor ligament strain or a bone bruise, Rice could potentially return within a few weeks. Bone bruising is a common side effect of hyperextension injuries, as the bones of the knee joint can collide and cause significant pain, even if the ligaments are not severely damaged.
However, if there is damage to the ACL, PCL, or LCL, or if there is significant tearing in the posterolateral corner of the knee, the recovery could be much more prolonged. ACL and PCL tears often require surgical reconstruction and can sideline athletes for six months to a year. Injuries to the posterolateral corner are also complex and can lead to chronic instability in the knee if not treated properly.
An MRI will be the key diagnostic tool to determine the full extent of Rice’s injury. Unlike x-rays, which are primarily used to detect bone fractures, MRIs provide detailed images of the soft tissues, including ligaments, tendons, and cartilage. The MRI will help determine if there are any significant tears in the knee ligaments or damage to other structures within the joint.
The injury to Rashee Rice is a sobering reminder of the risks that athletes face on the field, even in seemingly routine plays. While the full extent of his injury will not be known until further imaging is conducted, the mechanism of injury—caused by a combination of hyperextension and varus force—suggests that Rice could be facing a prolonged recovery. Chiefs fans and the team will be anxiously awaiting further updates, but as Dr. Sutterer pointed out, the quick decision to rule him out is concerning. Whether Rice will return this season or require surgery will depend on the results of his upcoming medical evaluations.