Through the 2022 postseason, the Kansas City Chiefs have laid it on the road. In each of their playoff victories, they’ve proven grit and dedication. However sadly, they’ve additionally collected a number of key accidents.
The Chiefs had entered the AFC Championship sport with important harm questions. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes was coping with a excessive ankle sprain from the Divisional Spherical sport, and tight finish Travis Kelce was coping with again spasms that turned up throughout follow.
However throughout last Sunday’s 23-20 victory that returned the AFC’s Lamar Hunt Trophy to Kansas Metropolis, much more gamers have been injured. Large receivers JuJu Smith-Schuster, Mecole Hardman and Kadarius Toney all left the sport — as did cornerback L’Jarius Sneed and linebacker Willie Homosexual Jr.
The week’s harm experiences — and head coach Andy Reid’s feedback — supplied some optimism on the defensive aspect of the ball. Homosexual was a restricted participant by means of the week’s practices, whereas Sneed participated in warm-ups as he progressed by means of the concussion protocol.
So a lot of the concern concerning accidents for Super Bowl LVII entails the crew’s wideouts. Reid — who is often isn’t very forthcoming about accidents — didn’t sound optimistic about Hardman’s probability to play. So the AFC title sport in all probability marks the tip of a very irritating season for Hardman. Since he’s set to develop into an unrestricted free agent this spring, his Kansas Metropolis profession might have reached its finish.
Regardless that the opposite two huge receivers listed on this week’s harm report didn’t take part in any practices, their availability for the Tremendous Bowl appears extra possible.
Smith-Schuster missed one 2022 sport with a concussion. He missed a lot of the AFC title sport with a left knee harm. Sadly, this isn’t the primary time he’s injured that knee. In 2019, he missed 4 video games with a left knee harm.
Nonetheless, Reid has indicated that the crew is “very optimistic” about his progress. So long as Smith-Schuster’s swelling improves, he might be obtainable to return to follow in Arizona because the crew makes its last preparations for the Tremendous Bowl.
Toney’s accidents this season have been well-documented. After a protracted harm historical past together with his former crew — the New York Giants — he missed 4 Kansas Metropolis video games with a hamstring pressure. He left the AFC title sport with an ankle sprain.
However with Toney, the Chiefs might have escaped a catastrophe. If his foot had landed another way, it may have been a way more important harm to both his ankle or knee.
The harm occurred throughout a really awkward touchdown — on that was far more awkward than we usually see. It seemed to be a non-contact harm — which isn’t a superb factor. Toney tried to make a lower together with his left leg — however then fell ahead after it appeared that his leg had buckled.
If his foot had been planted with none rotation of the decrease leg, Toney may have suffered a mid-foot fracture or a extra important ankle sprain. With this kind of foot planting, there’s additionally the potential for a critical knee harm; if his knee had been hyperextended, there would have been the chance for ligament injury.
Rehab occasions for ankle sprains range relying on the grade (that’s, severity) of the harm. A low-grade ankle sprain can heal comparatively shortly with gentle ache and swelling. Toney was additionally designated with a hamstring harm on the harm report — however this shouldn’t be too alarming, since it’s prone to be an aggravation of his earlier harm. (If a participant receives therapy for an harm, that therapy have to be listed on the harm report).
Keys for Toney’s rehab can be managing swelling and ache, gaining (and sustaining) a full vary of movement for the ankle and making certain enough single-leg energy and steadiness. If achieved correctly, these items can hasten his return to soccer actions.
Reid stated that Toney participated within the walkthrough portion of Thursday’s follow. The additional time of the bye week will solely assist him recuperate. If he will get any type of follow time — even restricted participation — the percentages would favor his return for the Tremendous Bowl.
Kansas Metropolis’s athletic coaching and medical employees labored minor miracles earlier than the AFC Championship. They’ll definitely stay busy as they proceed their preparations for the league championship in opposition to the Philadelphia Eagles.
