KC Chiefs Super Bowl LVIII Injuries: Rashee Rice and Others Limited on Thursday
The Kansas City Chiefs' final session of media availability for the 2023-24 campaign concluded on Thursday, which means the team is one step closer to Super Bowl LVIII. As the week of practice also winds down a bit, the team is also attempting to get a clearer picture of who will be available for Sunday's big game versus the San Francisco 49ers.
Four players were less than full participants in practice on Thursday, with three limited and one not working at all. Let's dive into the team's official injury report:
- DID NOT PARTICIPATE: LG Joe Thuney (pectoral)
- LIMITED: RB Jerick McKinnon (groin), RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire (illness), WR Rashee Rice (ankles)
Opinion: What does Rice's injury designation mean?
Update: According to the Thursday PFWA practice pool report, Rice got stepped on during practice. Peter King spoke to head coach Andy Reid after practice, with Reid confirming the development and saying Rice is "all right."
Not to be dramatic, but the world is ending, the sky is falling, and everything is bad. (Just kidding, that's definitely dramatic, but it's okay if that's how you're feeling.) Rice showing up on the injury report on the Thursday before the Super Bowl is certainly concerning. The fact that he's listed with ankles, plural, is also interesting. If Rice suffered an acute injury in practice (similar to Travis Kelce's hyperextended knee in the final practice before Week 1), I (Brisco) would assume "ankle" would be sufficient. It seems unlikely that he suffered simultaneous serious injuries to both ankles, but we don't have any further information as of the publishing of this story.
In an optimistic guess, it would make more sense if Rice was experiencing some general soreness below the calves and the Chiefs elected to limit his reps to make sure he's not dealing with extra nagging soreness on Sunday. However, if this turns out to be a significant problem for Rice, it would be extremely detrimental to the Chiefs' offense. Rice's growth was one of the most critical reasons the Chiefs' offense found its footing late in the season; without him, KC would have a largely two-dimensional group of playmakers on the biggest stage.
Chiefs' running back depth worth keeping an eye on entering Super Bowl LVIII
At the running back position, Edwards-Helaire has dealt with an illness all week. It's limited his media availability and his participation in practice, although he's managed to get work in during the week. His situation doesn't set off any alarms necessarily, but it's something to monitor nonetheless. Edwards-Helaire has missed practice altogether due to illness multiple times this season.
McKinnon, on the other hand, is limited for the second day in a row with a groin ailment. The veteran halfback underwent surgery for a core muscle injury and pelvic fracture last month, with the team designating him to return from injured reserve recently. Earlier in the week, Reid said his prospects to play are "slim." That continues to be the likely case.
Joe Thuney continues to miss practice
Another practice, another absence for Thuney. The All-Pro offensive lineman continues to nurse a pectoral injury suffered in the Divisional Round against the Buffalo Bills, ultimately missing the AFC Championship Game because of it as well. Thuney hasn't practiced in a few weeks, which doesn't bode well for his potential availability for the weekend. Reid described his chances of being active as a "long shot" this week.
Luckily for the Chiefs, backup Nick Allegretti is a very competent replacement. The fifth-year man spoke on Wednesday about how Thuney is helping him prepare for a potential start in the Super Bowl:
"I'm treating it like I'm playing, because that's how I have to mentally," Allegretti said to Aaron Ladd of KSHB 41. "He's also treating it that way so when a left guard coaching point comes up, we'll kind of look at each other and try to interpret it for each other. What that step means or what the angle means that we have to take. Having a guy like that who's been probably the best guard in this league for the last four or five yards — has not gotten his credit he deserves. Having a guy like that in your ear and helping you along the way... seeing him prepare, but also knowing the coaching points he's taking, I can apply to myself. He's been incredible."
