Cheifs keyplayer expected to return to the AFC Championship after knee injury

Kansas City’s defensive end discussed an injury he initially thought was minor on The Jim Rome Show on Monday

In Super Bowl LVIII, the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in overtime,

although one of their key players was unable to participate.

Defensive end Charles Omenihu tore his ACL two weeks before the Chiefs defeated the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship game.

Initially, there was some optimism about Omenihu’s injury,

and the pass rusher confidently told the reporters after the game that he would be ready for the Super Bowl.

On Monday’s Jim Rome Show, Omenihu emphasize that he did not believe the injury was significant at the time,

and that he had wanted to return to the game. “I didn’t know that I actually tore my ACL, to be honest,” he said.

“I felt a buckle, but it did not feel too bad. They gave me various tests on my knee, and it [felt] really stable.

So I was attempting to get back into the game. I tried to do high knees but couldn’t, so I assumed it was a minor [injury].

My mind was only focused on getting forward and seeing what would happen,

and I tried to stay positive since I expected to do well in the Super Bowl.”Omenihu,

who played for the 49ers from 2021 to 2022, signed with the Chiefs past offseason.

After serving a six-game ban to begin the season, he finished with seven sacks in 11 games,

having just caused a turnover and sacking league MVP Lamar Jackson before being injured against Baltimore.

The best stretch of play of his career just made the injury more tragic.”I had a great year,” Omenihu said.

“I had seven sacks in 11 games and then got a strip-sack in the AFC Championship game,

which helped us turn the game around and shift momentum. I felt like I was on a hot streak.

Throughout the regular season, I had six consecutive games with a sack. Everything for me was about trying to stay positive.

To be honest, when they told me the news, everything hit me all at once.

Who wants to miss out on playing in the Super Bowl, especially against their old team?

Omenihu, on the other hand, found inspiration in being present for his team.