The Kansas City Chiefs are back for yet another Super Bowl appearance, and there is some question as to whether or not they’ll have one of their best pass rushers on the field. Charles Omenihu suffered an injury during Kansas City’s victory over the Baltimore Ravens and, according to Jordan Schultz, the pass rusher tore his ACL and will not play in the Super Bowl.
#Chiefs pass rusher Charles Omenihu suffered a torn ACL vs the #Ravens, sources tell @BleacherReport.
Omenihu was a huge part of KC’s defensive surge, recording 7 sacks and 2 FF in 11 games — and had a strip sack on Lamar Jackson that resulted in a turnover vs Baltimore.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) January 29, 2024
This comes as something of a surprise, as Omenihu sounded optimistic about the injury after the game. Speaking to reporters, Omenihu adamantly stated that he wasn’t going to miss the Super Bowl. “I know I’m not done. I’m playing. I’m straight. Do I look like somebody who’s not going to play in the Super Bowl? No, I don’t. I’m good. Come on, bro.”
Charles Omenihu Gives Injury Update Ahead Of Super Bowl
This injury update is terrible news for the Chiefs, as Charles Omenihu is one of the better players on this defensive line. While Chris Jones is the best pass rusher on the roster, Omenihu has carried his weight as a situational player throughout the season.
Signed from the San Francisco 49ers in the offseason, the former fifth-round pick played in 11 games for the Chiefs. While on the field, the Texas product recorded seven sacks, 28 tackles, five tackles-for-loss, and 11 quarterback hits. His 63.7 PFF grade made him the 73rd-best edge defender out of 118 eligible players, but his 68.9 pass-rushing grade was above average.
This injury update comes at a terrible because Charles Omenihu could have been a key difference-maker against the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers have arguably the best roster in football, but their biggest weakness is along the offensive line. Trent Williams is still fantastic, but the rest of the line can be exploited.
Chances are, the 49ers are going to try to run the ball as much as possible. However, Patrick Mahomes should be able to turn this game into a shootout. If that happens, somebody will need to get to Brock Purdy, and a battle like this could come down to one or two pass-rushing reps.
Main Photo: Mark Konezny – USA Today Sports
