Though the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs turned in a 25-22 time beyond regulation victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Tremendous Bowl LVIII, considered one of their key gamers couldn’t be part of it.
Defensive finish Charles Omenihu tore his ACL two weeks earlier because the Chiefs defeated the Baltimore Ravens within the AFC Championship recreation. Initially, there was some optimism about Omenihu’s damage — and the move rusher emphatically acknowledged to the media after the sport that he could be prepared for the Tremendous Bowl.
Showing on the Jim Rome Present on Monday, Omenihu reiterated that he didn’t consider the damage to be severe on the time — to the purpose that he initially hoped to reenter the sport.
“I didn’t know that I truly tore my ACL, to be sincere,” he recalled. “I did really feel a buckle, however it didn’t appear too unhealthy. They gave me a number of exams on my knee, and my knee [felt] tremendous steady. So, I used to be truly making an attempt to return into the sport. I attempted to do excessive knees and I wasn’t capable of, however I simply thought it was possibly not insignificant however some type of a little bit minor [injury]. My thoughts was simply on making an attempt to get forward and see what it’s, and I attempted to stay constructive as a result of I used to be anticipating being okay within the Tremendous Bowl.”
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Omenihu — who performed for the 49ers from 2021-22 — signed with Kansas Metropolis final offseason. After serving a six-game suspension to start out the season, he completed with seven sacks in 11 video games — and had simply compelled a fumble, sacking league MVP Lamar Jackson earlier than struggling his damage towards Baltimore.
One of the best stretch of soccer to this point in his profession made the damage much more devastating.
“I had an excellent yr,” Omenihu acknowledged. “I had seven sacks in 11 video games after which obtained a strip-sack within the AFC Championship recreation to type of flip the sport round a little bit for us and sway momentum. I felt like I used to be on a sizzling streak. I had six video games in a row the place I had a sack through the common season. All the things for me was simply making an attempt to stay constructive. After they informed me the information, it type of all simply hit me directly, to be sincere. Who desires to overlook out on enjoying in a Tremendous Bowl — particularly enjoying towards their former workforce?
Being there for his workforce, nonetheless, turned Omenihu’s motivation.
“I positively had these moments,” he admitted, “of, ‘Why me?’ and ‘Why now?’ and ‘How is that this taking place?’ as a result of I used to be having a lot success. I made a giant play through the recreation, and I full on thought I used to be going to proceed the identical momentum into the Tremendous Bowl — into the largest recreation of my profession. I positively had these emotions, however I on the identical time, I used to be capable of compartmentalize whereas I used to be within the constructing to need to be with the workforce through the week.”
Though unable to play for the week, the previous 49er took it upon himself to assist the Chiefs put together for San Francisco’s protection.
“I used to be making an attempt to assist the fellows as a lot as I can,” Omenihu revealed, “as a result of the core of that protection so far as the scheme, I remembered, and I do know. I wished to assist as a lot as I might.”
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Omenihu will doubtless miss a good portion of the 2024 season recovering from his premature damage. When he does return, he is aware of the Chiefs can have a good larger goal on their backs after profitable their third Tremendous Bowl in a five-year span.
“Individuals are going to only hate the Chiefs much more,” the move rusher predicted. “I feel folks get to the purpose the place they’re bored with seeing us win — and that’s a very good factor. I need to be that workforce that persons are bored with seeing win.
“We’re not going to get bored with it as a result of which means we’re profitable. You’ve simply obtained to deliver your A-game each week.”
