The Kansas City Chiefs completed mandatory minicamp almost three weeks ago and have a month off until training camp begins. Rookies and quarterbacks report to camp on Tuesday, July 16, while veterans report on Saturday, July 20.
The Chiefs had three players at some point miss mandatory minicamp while three were present but did not wear their helmets. One of the three players not wearing their helmet is recovering from a knee injury.
The Kansas City Chiefs six-year veteran is recovering from a significant knee injury
Charles Omenihu tore his ACL in the AFC Championship game against the Baltimore Ravens. He missed the Super Bowl and underwent surgery near the end of February. He showed up for OTAs and mandatory minicamp but didn’t practice or wear a helmet.
He revealed an encouraging update.
Charles Omenihu revealed an encouraging injury update
“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.”
Since he tore his ACL near the end of January and recovery from ACL surgery generally takes anywhere from six to nine months (maybe longer), he will likely start the 2024 season on the PUP list and, in this hypothetical, miss at least the first four weeks.
He isn’t the only defensive end who didn’t practice.
The Kansas City Chiefs 5th round pick missed camp because of health concerns
BJ Thompson suffered from seizures and went into cardiac arrest during a special teams meeting on Thursday, June 6. Thompson is improving and was released from the hospital a week later on Tuesday, June 11. He missed mandatory minicamp and is at home recovering.
The Kansas City Chiefs will have to rely on a second-year player for the time being
Due to Charles Omenihu recovering from his injury and BJ Thompson recovering from his health scare, the Chiefs’ defense end tandem got weaker. They will have to rely on Felix Anudike-Uzomah, a first-round pick from 2023 until both players can recover.
Anudike-Uzomah didn’t play much as a rookie. He only played 20% of defensive snaps and was a healthy scratch in three of their four playoff games. He played in the Super Bowl and impacted the defense by recording one tackle for a loss.
