Comparing Chiefs vs 49ers rosters in Super Bowl LIV and Super Bowl LVIII
3 February 2024
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs suffered a crucial blow during the AFC Championship when defensive end Charles Omenihu suffered a torn ACL.
The injury knocked him out of the rest of the game and out of Super Bowl LVIII where Omenihu would have faced a lot of his former teammates.
After Omenihu returned from a six-game suspension that stemmed from a domestic violence arrest, he collected seven sacks in 11 games and strip-sacked Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson before he exited the game.
At 6’5, 280 pounds, Omenihu was a dynamic edge rusher along with being able to pass rush on the interior of the defensive line and the Chiefs will certainly miss him in the Super Bowl.
“He’s one of those guys man that I just hate to see him go down.,” linebacker Nick Bolton said. “He’s worked hard for this moment. Got a chance to play against his old team on that venue and on that stage man so you feel for him for sure. He’s gonna be one of those guys in the facility he’s gonna make sure he keeps the energy around.”
“You don’t replace that height and that length that he has. But you know we’ll get guys to step in there,” defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo said. “You know everybody’s got to up their game and a Super Bowl anyway.”
One of the players who will look to produce in his place is Lee’s Summit and Kansas State product Felix Anudike-Uzomah.
In the first five games, Anudike-Uzomah logged double-digit snaps in each game as he and other defensive linemen stepped up during defensive end Charles Omenihu’s suspension.
He has only logged double-digit snaps twice since Omenihu’s return which was in Omenihu’s debut against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 7 and Week 18 against the Chargers when most of the starters sat out the final game of the regular season.
FAU played the most snaps in the regular season finale and has been a healthy scratch for the playoffs. He has recorded 14 tackles, seven QB hits and a half sack.
Spagnuolo has said repeatedly that Anudike-Uzomah hasn’t done anything to keep him off the field, he just has other players that have been playing well in front of him in the DL rotation.
“We feel real confident with Felix,” Spagnuolo said. FAU has flashed his athleticism and pass rushing prowess in his limited reps.
“Hopefully, the fact that Felix has played some in games that he’ll be able to step in there and perform pretty well for us.”