Chiefs open to letting Patrick Mahomes punt if needed

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – With regular punter Tommy Townsend doubtful for last week’s game due to a knee injury, the Chiefs almost had to call on their backup when they faced the Denver Broncos.

This backup plan? Quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

“[Mahomes] is our backup punter,” special teams coach Dave Toub said. “He could do it. He shows me all the time that he’s there [at practice]. Boom.

“This guy is amazing.”

Against the Broncos, Townsend played through his injury, scoring three times for an average of 48 yards, so Mahomes wasn’t needed. But Townsend is again on this week’s injury report, even though Toub seemed confident he would be able to play Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Mahomes last punted in a high school game. At Whitehouse High in Texas, he threw 29 times for an average of 37.8 yards.

The Chiefs have used unusual players in their kicking game before. Last season, safety Justin Reid replaced the injured Harrison Butker in Week 1 and made 1 of 2 extra point attempts in the first half before Butker returned to the game in the second quarter.