Chiefs lose WR Hardman to shoulder injury

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes had to be helped off the field after hurting his left ankle while throwing a tying touchdown pass to Samaje Perine early in the fourth quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night.

Kansas City was trailing 17-10 and facing third-and-goal at the Buccaneers 6 when Mahomes rolled to his right. As a defender rushed toward him, Mahomes planted his left foot awkwardly while flipping a pass to Perine alone in the end zone.

Mahomes, who has a history of ankle injuries, lay face-down in the grass before rolling over and grabbing at the ankle. Trainers came all the way across the field to talk to him on the Tampa Bay sideline, and they helped him halfway across the field before Mahomes shook them off and walked the rest of the way on his own.

He was checked again on the sideline, then was up and moving around without any serious problem. He trotted onto the field for the Chiefs' next possession.

Earlier in the game, Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman looked as if he sustained a serious injury when he landed hard on his shoulder after a long punt return. But he was back to return a punt late in the second quarter and caught an important pass to convert a third down as the Chiefs were trying to tie the game 17-all early in the fourth.

Hardman's return was good news for a team already missing Marquise Brown, who hurt his shoulder in the preseason and could miss the year following surgery, and Rashee Rice, who underwent season-ending surgery on his knee.

JuJu Smith-Schuster has been dealing with a hamstring injury and was inactive for Monday night's game.

Those injuries were a big reason why the Chiefs recently traded a conditional fifth-round draft pick to the Titans for DeAndre Hopkins, a three-time All-Pro receiver who made his debut for Kansas City in last week's win over the Raiders.

Hopkins had a memorable first home game at Arrowhead Stadium on Monday night. He made a spectacular contested catch on third-and-8 inside the Tampa Bay 5 late in the second quarter, then caught the 1-yard TD pass from Mahomes and celebrated with the dance made famous by the film “Remember the Titans.”

The Chiefs needed a big game from Hopkins. Their only wide receivers beside Hardman against Tampa Bay were first-round draft pick Xavier Worthy, journeyman Justin Watson and Justyn Ross, who was elevated from the practice squad.

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