Charles Omenihu enjoyed a career year with the Chiefs in 2023, but an ACL tear took him out of the AFC title game. The veteran defensive end’s comments on his recovery to date point to him returning at some point in the regular season.

“It’s going good,” Omenihu said of his rehab process (via Aaron Wilson of KPRC2). “Slow process, everybody told me it was going to be like that, but it’s been decent. Honestly, right now, I’m steady, I’m cool… I kind of keep myself like that, just stay plain and we’ll get to the point where I ramp it up like that.”

The 26-year-old’s progress in recovery will be worth watching closely as the summer unfolds. Omenihu proved to be a vital part of Kansas City’s strong defense in his debut Chiefs campaign. The former Texan and 49er recorded seven sacks and a pair of forced fumbles in 2023 despite missing the first six games through suspension. That production came while he was logging a career-high 56% snap share, and a similar workload could await him once he is healthy.

The 2024 campaign carries important financial implications in this situation as well, of course. Omenihu has one year remaining on his current deal, and he is owed $7.4MM this season. The former fifth-rounder expressed a desire for an extension (one which would be accompanied by a raise) in February, but given his injury status it would come as a surprise if one were to be worked out before he returns to action.

While Omenihu is sidelined, the Chiefs will rely on George Karlaftis, Mike Danna, Felix Anudike-Uzomah and BJ Thompson along the edge at the start of the year (that is, presuming the latter will be recovered in full from his cardiac arrest by the fall). Omenihu will represent a notable addition to that group once he is back in the fold, and his play will go a long way in determining his earning power on a new Chiefs accord or a free agent deal.

Charles Omenihu enjoyed a successful first season in Kansas City when on the field. His availability was hindered at the start of the year due to a six-game suspension and in the Super Bowl due to an ACL tear, but his level of play in between likely helped his market value.

As a result, the fifth-year defensive end is eyeing an extension. One year remains on his current deal, though, and he is due $7.4MM in 2024 with a scheduled cap hit of $10.97MM. A key factor in any negotiations will be his recovery from his ACL tear, which occurred in the AFC title game. Omenihu recently acknowledged on social media that he might need to repeat his 2023 production to land a new pact.

The former Texan and 49er posted seven sacks in 11 regular season contests during his debut Chiefs campaign. He added a strip-sack in the AFC Championship Game before suffering the injury which sidelined for the Super Bowl, demonstrating his value as pass-rush option to complement the interior pressure generated by Chris Jones. When asked about the possibility of an extension, Omenihu confirmed he feels he earned a new agreement.

“I think I did, to be honest,” the 26-year-old said during an appearance on NFL Network’s Good Morning Football (video link). “Like you said, seven sacks in 11 games and then the sack in the championship game to kind of spark off the wave of defensive plays. Finished second on the team in sacks and didn’t have the first six games to catch up with George [Karlaftis] and Chris [Jones]. I think I did, I think the tape speaks for itself.”

Of course, the defending champions have more pressing matters to attend to on the defensive side of the ball. Jones is once again a pending free agent, and his play after the end of his 2023 hold-out further cemented his value to the Chiefs. Meanwhile, standout corner L’Jarius Sneed is set to receive the franchise tag and he could be traded if talks on a long-term pact do not pan out. Sorting out both Jones and Sneed’s futures will be critical in advance of free agency.

On the edge, Kansas City has both Omenihu and Karlaftis under contract for next season. The latter is joined by 2023 first-rounder Felix Anudike-Uzomah in terms of being on his rookie contract and therefore under team control for several years. Omenihu, by contrast, could set himself up nicely for free agency next spring if he manages to recover in full and deliver another strong outing. It would likely come as a surprise if the Chiefs were willing to negotiate an extension (something which, in fairness, could prove beneficial by reducing his 2024 cap hit) before he returns to the field, but Omenihu is clearly open to doing so at any time.

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.

The Chiefs will be without one of their defensive ends for a while. Charles Omenihu received a six-game suspension Friday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

Omenihu, who signed with the Chiefs in March, was arrested on a misdemeanor domestic violence charge in January. While Omenihu played out the season with the 49ers, he will be in line to miss a chunk of his first Chiefs campaign.

Suspended under the NFL’s personal conduct policy, Omenihu will be eligible to complete Kansas City’s training camp and preseason. But he will not be able to rejoin the team until Week 7. The Chiefs signed the former 49ers auxiliary rusher to a two-year, $16MM deal. This suspension puts the $8.6MM guaranteed Omenihu received at risk.

The arrest occurred after a woman told police her boyfriend, Omenihu, pushed her to the ground during an argument. The 25-year-old defender was booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail. This came days before the NFC championship game. With the NFL still conducting its investigation, Omenihu played 38 defensive snaps in the 49ers’ loss to the Eagles. The arrest also did not do too much to minimize Omenihu’s market, with it requiring an $8.6MM guarantee — more than Leonard Floyd or ex-Chief Frank Clark received when they eventually found new homes — to complete the signing. But this suspension could void that guarantee.

The Chiefs have not been afraid to take risks on players with checkered pasts, as the Clark trade and Tyreek Hill draft choice best illustrate. The Chiefs also gave cornerbacks DeAndre Baker and Damon Arnette their first opportunities after off-field incidents led to each becoming available. Clark, who had a domestic violence incident in his past prior to his NFL career, played four seasons with the Chiefs but found himself a cap casualty this offseason. Received a two-game suspension last year after being arrested twice on gun charges in 2021, Clark played four seasons with the Chiefs following the 2019 blockbuster trade. Clark has since signed with the Broncos.

Since acquiring Omenihu from the Texans before the 2021 trade deadline, the 49ers used him as one of their Nick Bosa sidekicks. Omenihu recorded 1.5 sacks during the 2021 postseason and dropped Geno Smith twice during the 49ers’ wild-card win over the Seahawks last year. During the 2022 regular season, Omenihu registered 4.5 sacks and totaled 16 quarterback hits. When the suspension ends, he will be expected to team with recent first-round picks George Karlaftis and Felix Anudike-Uzomah on Kansas City’s Chris Jones-fronted defensive line.

Carlos Dunlap served as Clark’s top D-end complementary piece in Kansas City last season. With an Omenihu ban long expected, the Chiefs may be considering re-signing the 13-year veteran. Dunlap joins Jadeveon Clowney, Robert Quinn and multiple ex-Chiefs — Justin Houston and Melvin Ingram — as the top edge defenders available. The defending Super Bowl champions also roster Mike Danna, a 2020 fifth-round pick who tallied five sacks last season, as a veteran piece alongside its recent first-round investments.