2024 Super Bowl injuries: Chiefs’ Charles Omenihu won’t play vs. 49ers after tearing ACL in win over Ravens

Against San Francisco, Kansas City will be without a vital defender.

For Super Bowl LVIII, Charles Omenihu will not be playing on the field with the rest of the Kansas City Chiefs. According to CBS Sports Lead NFL Insider Jonathan Jones, Omenihu sustained a torn ACL injury during the Chiefs’ AFC title game victory over the Baltimore Ravens. As a result, he will not play against the San Francisco 49ers.

For a Chiefs defense that gave up the second-fewest points in the NFL during the regular season, Omenihu’s absence is crucial. Omenihu finished the regular season with seven sacks in 11 games. He also got a strip sack of Lamar Jackson in the 17-10 victory on Sunday.

In order to exert more pressure on 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy in his absence, George Karlaftis, Chris Jones, and Michael Danna will have more responsibility. Those four guys accounted for the majority of the Chiefs’ 57 sacks during the regular season.

With Omenihu out, reserve Malik Herring might play a bigger part. Herring finished the regular season with 1.5 sacks in seven games.