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Chiefs DL Charles Omenihu Suffers ACL Tear

January 29th, 2024 at 2:32pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Chiefs’ defense played a central role in the team’s AFC title game victory on Sunday. The unit will be shorthanded in the Super Bowl, however. Defensive lineman Charles Omenihu suffered a torn ACL in the win over the Ravens, per Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report.

Omenihu exited the game with a knee injury and was not able to return. More importantly, today’s update means he will not be available for the Super Bowl. The news deals a major blow to Kansas City’s pass rush given the role he had been playing in 2023, his debut campaign with the Chiefs.

The former fifth-rounder played in 11 regular season games with Kansas City, logging a career-high 56% snap share. Omenihu used that increased playing time to set new personal bests in a few categories, including tackles (28) and sacks (seven). He totaled a pair of forced fumbles during the season, and added another in the Chiefs’ postseason run. His impressive campaign has now come to an end, though.

Omenihu began his career with the Texans, failing to establish himself as a full-time starter. He was dealt to the 49ers midway through the 2021 season. In San Francisco, the Texas alum recorded 4.5 sacks in 26 games (adding another 3.5 in six postseason contests), showing his ability to serve as at least a complementary edge rush option. He joined the Chiefs in free agency on a two-year, $16MM deal. Instead of preparing for a title game against his former team, he will turn his attention to a lengthy recovery process.

The 26-year-old was issued a six-game suspension to start the season stemming from a domestic violence incident which took place during his time with the 49ers. His play upon return showed his value to the Chiefs’ defense, a unit which posted strong numbers in several categories this year. Kansas City’s offense has not been as prolific as usual during the Patrick Mahomes era this year, and the team will no doubt require a strong showing on defense against San Francisco.

With Omenihu out of the picture, the Chiefs will continue relying on Chris Jones as the anchor of their defensive front. Recent first-round picks George Karlaftis and Felix Anudike-Uzomah could be counted on in an additional capacity, although the latter has not played in the postseason to date. In any case, Kansas City’s build-up to Super Bowl LVIII has not started in ideal fashion.

Giants Interview Chiefs LBs Coach Brendan Daly For DC Job

January 27th, 2024 at 5:05pm CST by Ely Allen

It’s taken long enough, but after 26 years of coaching at the college and NFL level, Chiefs linebackers coach Brendan Daly has finally gotten an interview for a coordinator position. According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, Daly interviewed with the Giants to potentially replace Don “Wink” Martindale as defensive coordinator.

Despite only being 48 years old, it’s been a long road for Daly to get this opportunity. After taking his first coaching job for a Florida high school in 1997, Daly spent eight years coaching at Drake, Villanova, Maryland, Oklahoma State, and Illinois State, coaching tight ends and defensive line. He got his first NFL opportunity as an assistant defensive line coach for the Vikings in 2006. Over the next 16 years, Daly worked as a defensive line coach for the Vikings, Rams, Patriots, and Chiefs, earning the run game coordinator title with the Chiefs for three years.

As a linebackers coach for the past two years, Daly has coached a group of underrated linebackers to help anchor a defensive unit that finished second in the NFL for both points allowed and yards allowed. He joins this pool of five other candidates as he endeavors to earn his first coordinator job:

Minor NFL Transactions: 1/27/24

January 27th, 2024 at 4:24pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are the standard gameday practice squad elevations for Championship Sunday:

Baltimore Ravens

Detroit Lions

Kansas City Chiefs

San Francisco 49ers

Minor NFL Transactions: 1/26/24

January 26th, 2024 at 10:18pm CST by Ely Allen

Friday’s minor transactions:

Kansas City Chiefs

Pittsburgh Steelers

After missing the Divisional Round matchup with the Bills due to a triceps injury, Nnadi has been placed on injured reserve. This ends the season for another Chiefs starter as the team continues to limp its way through the postseason.

Chiefs Rule Out G Joe Thuney For AFC Championship Game

January 26th, 2024 at 2:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

JANUARY 26: Thuney will not be a game-time decision; the Chiefs ruled out their All-Pro left guard out for the AFC title game. Sunday will mark Thuney’s first absence this season. Nose tackle Derrick Nnadi is also out for a second straight game. Additionally, the team will not activate Skyy Moore from IR this week; the second-year wideout has been eligible to come off IR for the past two weeks.

JANUARY 24: While the Chiefs have seen their tackle pickups struggle this season, the defending Super Bowl champions boast one of the NFL’s best interior offensive lines. They look set to need at least one backup to step in Sunday, however.

The pectoral injury Joe Thuney suffered against the Bills is likely to keep him out of the AFC championship game, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter. Thuney is believed to have sustained a pec strain, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport.

Thuney avoiding a tear represents promising news regarding his potential availability for Super Bowl LVIII — should the Chiefs qualify — but he has been one of the NFL’s most durable players during his eight-year career. The former Patriots draftee missed two games last season; those are the only two absences of his eight-year career. Thuney received first-team All-Pro honors at left guard this season.

The Chiefs made Thuney a centerpiece in their 2021 O-line remodeling effort. After the Buccaneers hounded Patrick Mahomes in a Super Bowl LV blowout, the Chiefs added four new starters up front. Thuney became the most expensive piece, signing a five-year, $80MM contract to defect from New England. Thuney joined center Creed Humphrey, right guard Trey Smith and left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. in this successful overhaul. Brown has since left, joining the Bengals, but the Chiefs’ interior trio represents a key part of their voyage to a sixth straight AFC title game.

Thuney, 31, earned second-team All-Pro acclaim in 2022 and joined Humphrey as Chiefs blockers to receive Pro Bowl nods this season. The Patriots used Thuney as a five-year starter, franchise-tagging him in 2020. Though, the dependable guard did not earn any accolades while in New England. The former third-round pick has been quite important in Kansas City, however, especially considering the team’s Donovan Smith and Jawaan Taylor signings have produced inconsistency on the edges. ESPN’s pass block win rate metric slots Thuney, Humphrey and Smith, respectively, first, second and fourth among interior O-linemen.

Fifth-year blocker Nick Allegretti has made four starts at guard over the past two seasons. He profiles as the next man up for the Chiefs, who are attempting to become the first repeat Super Bowl champ since the 2003-04 Patriots. Second-year UDFA Mike Caliendo also resides on K.C.’s 53-man roster.

Minor NFL Transactions: 1/24/24

January 24th, 2024 at 9:25pm CST by Ely Allen

Here’s Wednesday’s minor moves throughout the NFL:

Kansas City Chiefs

San Francisco 49ers

Wanogho and Davis’ 21-day practice windows will open now. Wanogho’s addition to the active roster could add some well-timed depth on the offensive line as the team deals with an injury to starting guard Joe Thuney that could force him to miss time. Davis isn’t expected to make much of an impact on a deep 49ers defensive line rotation, but allowing Davis to return to practice following a high ankle sprain in December could give San Francisco a good look at one of the few defensive tackles they’ll still have under contract in 2024. It should also give Davis a head start on any offseason training plan.

Minor NFL Transactions: 1/20/24

January 20th, 2024 at 4:55pm CST by Ely Allen

With three games remaining this weekend, six teams were required to announce their roster moves today:

Buffalo Bills

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Kansas City Chiefs

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Bills and Lions move forward with the same pair of standard gameday practice squad elevations as last week. The Packers and Buccaneers, on the other hand, will give Banks and Dzansi a chance to make their NFL debuts in the Divisional Round of the playoffs.

Chiefs Preparing For Potential Andy Reid Retirement?

January 20th, 2024 at 4:15pm CST by Ely Allen

We at Pro Football Rumors often report on actual transactions and recent news, but the word “rumors” is in our name for a reason. This most recent report comes from a rumor out of Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio and crew who say that “the Chiefs have a possible Andy Reid retirement after the current postseason on their radar screen.”

What does that mean, exactly? Not much, honestly. Reid hasn’t said much, if anything, to stir such rumors. The Chiefs’ brass hasn’t said anything hinting at such an attitude, either. Reid said in 2020 he was open to coaching past 70 and indicated following Super Bowl LVII he was coming back for the 2023 season.

Recently, the subject of retirement was only broached when Reid responded to a question about a potential retirement following the team’s win over the Dolphins last week. “I haven’t even thought about that,” Reid told reporters. “I’m thinking about one thing. I figured that would come up when you guys were asking these questions because I’m old, but (I’m) not that old.”

Reid, 65, is oft mentioned in those conversations concerning the top head coaches in the league, and he belongs there. In 25 years of head coaching experience with the Eagles and Chiefs, Reid holds a 258-144-1 regular season record (.641 winning percentage) and a 23-16 record (.590) in the playoffs. His time in Kansas City has rewarded him with two Super Bowl wins. It’s quite the resume to end with, but Reid’s Chiefs are still currently alive for a potential third Super Bowl, and despite taking a slight step back this year in the regular season, the team shows no signs of giving up ground in the AFC West.

There could be an easy solution to who may replace Reid in that unlikely scenario. It could also answer the question of why Commanders offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, who has been an annual name in head coaching vacancy rumors, has only so far been mentioned as a candidate to step in for the team he’s already on. If there’s any truth to the possibility that Reid steps down, Bieniemy may be the natural choice to step in and take over after he spent 10 years on the Chiefs’ coaching staff from 2013-22.

Regardless, all of this is mere speculation for now. If the Chiefs fail to advance in the playoffs this weekend, we should be provided some clarity on the matter sooner rather than later. The Chiefs would be put in a difficult position if Reid waits too long to vacate the position and all the best head coaching candidates get hired. If Reid is going to retire, it’s likely to come soon after the Chiefs 2023 season ends.

NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 1/17/24

January 17th, 2024 at 9:05pm CST by Ely Allen

Wednesday’s reserve/futures contracts:

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Indianapolis Colts

Kansas City Chiefs

Miami Dolphins

Pittsburgh Steelers

Bryant joined the Cowboys in November, and though he didn’t appear in any games, Bryant left a good impression in Dallas after several weeks on the practice squad. He was released late in the season as the team shuffled the roster a bit but makes his return to Dallas for the offseason.

Minor NFL Transactions: 1/17/24

January 17th, 2024 at 6:00pm CST by Adam La Rose

Today’s minor moves:

Kansas City Chiefs

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Jones’ rookie season has come to an end, given the requirement for players on injured reserve to miss four weeks. The UDFA was used primarily on special teams this year, but he appeared in all 17 regular season games as well as the Chiefs’ wild-card win. Christiansen last played in Week 17, which marked his fifth appearance of the campaign. Kansas City will need to make another roster move soon to create room for wideout Skyy Moore to come back into the lineup, after he was designated for return earlier today.

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