Jeremy Maclin Injury Update: Will Kansas City Chiefs Star WR Play vs. Partriots?

The Kansas City Chiefs earned a big playoff victory in Houston on Saturday, but didn't leave the game unscathed. Leading receiver Jeremy Maclin injured his right knee after making a reception in the third quarter. He left the field on a cart and did not return, leaving his status for the divisional playoff game in question.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid called the injury a knee sprain following the game and said Maclin would have an MRI on Sunday. But it was later reported the injury was to Maclin’s right knee, specifically the ACL. Maclin has torn his right ACL twice previously, in 2013 with Philadelphia and in 2009 while in college at Missouri. However, an MRI early Sunday revealed no knee damage and instead, the 27-year-old was diagnosed with a high-ankle sprain.

According to Schefter, Maclin’s status for Kansas City’s next game in New England is uncertain at this time. NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport did say there is a chance Maclin plays on Sunday.

The severity of high-ankle sprains can vary from case to case, with the healing process sometimes taking as long as several weeks. Most recently, Panthers running back Fozzy Whitaker suffered the same injury in Week 16 and was unable to play in the season finale.

Maclin had three catches for 29 yards on four targets before exiting the game. Maclin was quarterback Alex Smith’s top target in 2015, compiling 1,088 yards and eight touchdowns off 87 receptions. The offseason addition of Maclin came after the Chiefs' wide receivers failed to score a touchdown in the entire 2014 season.