Patrick Mahomes leaves Chiefs-Titans game after scary blow to head

Patrick Mahomes left Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans after taking a violent blow to his head.

The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback scrambled to buy time on a pass play midway through the fourth quarter. Titans pass rusher Denico Autrey caught him from behind and grabbed Mahomes' right ankle. Then defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons hit the QB high, making contact with his head and forcing his neck to snap back.

Mahomes lost the ball on the play and laid on the field in pain. He needed help from teammates to walk to the sideline. Chad Henne took over at quarterback after the play with the Titans holding a 24-point lead, one that held up in an eventual 27-3 victory.

Reid: Mahomes not concussed

After the game, head coach Andy Reid told reporters that Mahomes cleared concussion protocol and that he made the choice to take him out of the game that Tennessee ultimately won.

“As far as the injuries go, Pat was in the concussion protocol,” Reid said, per Chiefs Wire. “He cleared it, and then I decided not to put him back in.”

Mahomes told reporters after the game that "I felt fine.

"Y'all saw the hit," Mahomes said, per The Athletic. "I took my time getting up, but I felt fine. I did everything I needed to do to be here."

The Chiefs fell to 3-4 with the loss, raising alarms around the team's playoff hopes and sputtering offense after entering the season as AFC favorites. They'll have an extra day to prepare next week for a Monday night game against the New York Giants (2-5).