Sep 15, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (10) runs the ball during the first half against the Cincinnati Bengals at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Reports: Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco, DE Charles Omenihu return

The Kansas City Chiefs designated running back Isiah Pacheco and defensive end Charles Omenihu to return to practice this week, multiple outlets reported Tuesday.

They could be available for Sunday’s showdown as the undefeated Chiefs (9-0) visit the Buffalo Bills (8-2) for a clash of AFC division leaders in Orchard Park, N.Y.

Pacheco was placed on injured reserve Sept. 18 with a broken fibula sustained in a Week 2 victory against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Omenihu has been recovering from a torn ACL sustained in last year’s AFC Championship Game victory over the Baltimore Ravens.

Pacheco, 25, rushed for 135 yards and a touchdown and caught seven passes for 54 yards in two games before the injury. He has accumulated 2,328 yards from scrimmage with 15 touchdowns in 33 games (26 starts) since Kansas City drafted him in the seventh round in 2022.

Omenihu, 27, had a career-high seven sacks in 11 games (one start) in his first season with the Chiefs in 2023. He has 18.5 sacks in 72 career games (11 starts) with the Houston Texans (2019-21), San Francisco 49ers (2021-22) and Kansas City. He was a fifth-round pick by Houston in 2019.

–Field Level Media

Jan 28, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Charles Omenihu (90) strips the ball from Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) in the AFC Championship football game at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Chiefs DE Charles Omenihu undergoes surgery to repair ACL tear

Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Charles Omenihu underwent right knee surgery to repair the torn ACL he sustained in the AFC Championship Game victory over the Baltimore Ravens on Jan. 28.

Omenihu reportedly underwent the surgery on Tuesday in Los Angeles.

“(Surgery) was a success,” Omenihu said on social media. “I appreciate all the well wishes and prayers. I’ve been through the dark before and God has always guided me to the light, this will be no different.”

Omenihu had a strip-sack of Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson in the second quarter of the AFC title game before getting hurt on a non-contact play later in the period. The injury caused him to miss the Super Bowl.

Omenihu, 26, had a career-best seven sacks in 11 games in his first season with Kansas City. He missed the first six games due to a suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy following an alleged domestic-violence incident in January 2023 when he was a member of the San Francisco 49ers.

Overall, Omenihu has 18.5 sacks, five forced fumbles and 95 tackles in 72 career games (11 starts) with the Houston Texans (2019-21), 49ers (2021-22) and Chiefs. He was a fifth-round pick by the Texans out of Texas in the 2019 draft.

–Field Level Media

Jan 21, 2024; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Charles Omenihu (90) against the Buffalo Bills in the 2024 AFC divisional round game at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Chiefs DE Charles Omenihu has torn ACL, out for Super Bowl

Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Charles Omenihu suffered a torn ACL on Sunday and will miss Super Bowl LVIII, several reports said Monday.

After a high-scoring start to the AFC Championship Game that saw the Chiefs go on top 14-7, Omenihu made a key strip-sack of Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson recovered by teammate George Karlaftis. The Chiefs went on to win 17-10.

Some time later, Omenihu left the game to have his right knee evaluated for an injury.

After reports about his ACL surfaced Monday, the 26-year-old seemed to confirm his diagnosis when he posted a single broken-heart emoji on X (formerly Twitter).

The Chiefs will play in their fourth Super Bowl in five seasons and face the San Francisco 49ers — one of Omenihu’s former teams.

After the Houston Texans drafted him in the fifth round in 2019, Omenihu has collected 95 tackles, 52 quarterback hits, 18.5 sacks and five forced fumbles in 72 regular-season games (11 starts) over his career with Houston (2019-21), San Francisco (2021-22) and Kansas City.

He had career highs of 7.0 sacks and 28 tackles in 11 regular-season games (one start) for the Chiefs this year.

–Field Level Media

Jan 8, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) warms up before the game against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

49ers’ Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel sit out practice

San Francisco 49ers star Christian McCaffrey, hybrid receiver Deebo Samuel and running back Elijah Mitchell sat out practice on Wednesday as they nursed their respective injuries.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan, however, told reporters that he expects McCaffrey (calf), Samuel (ankle) and Mitchell (groin) to play in Sunday’s NFC Championship Game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

“I expect them (to play), but there’s no guarantees,” Shanahan said on Wednesday. “Especially with it being an NFC Championship Game, I think there’s a better chance they’ll be ready since there’s nothing guaranteed after this. Hopefully, we’ll keep our fingers crossed.”

Shanahan initially deemed McCaffrey and Mitchell as day-to-day on Monday, one day after the 49ers’ 19-12 victory over the Dallas Cowboys.

Shanahan also addressed the availability of defensive end Charles Omenihu (oblique) for Sunday’s game. Omenihu was arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor domestic violence on Monday after police were called to his home in San Jose, Calif.

“We’ve looked into it for the last 24 hours or 48 hours, not necessarily myself but other people,” Shanahan said. “We feel very good letting the legal process take care of itself. Don’t feel we should kick him off our team at this time.”

The NFL confirmed that Omenihu will remain available and that the case will be reviewed down the line.

“The matter will be reviewed under the league’s personal conduct policy. There is no change to his status,” the league’s statement said.

Omenihu, 25, has recorded career-best totals in tackles (20) and sacks (4.5) in 17 games (three starts) this season. He also had two sacks and a forced fumble in San Francisco’s 41-23 win over the Seattle Seahawks in the wild-card round.

McCaffrey, 26, rushed for 746 yards and six touchdowns and caught 52 passes for 464 yards and four scores in 11 regular-season games for the 49ers after being acquired from the Carolina Panthers in mid-October. He was superb in the NFC wild-card round when he gained 119 yards on 15 carries and added a TD catch.

Mitchell, 24, was limited to five regular-season games due to two knee injuries — one to each knee — and had 279 yards and two touchdowns. He had just 2 yards on nine carries versus Seattle but had a touchdown grab among his two catches for 25 yards.

Samuel, 27, had 56 catches for 632 yards and two touchdowns and 42 carries for 232 yards and three scores in 13 games this season. He had six receptions for 133 yards and a touchdown in the wild-card game versus Seattle.

–Field Level Media

Jan 22, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) runs past Dallas Cowboys linebacker Leighton Vander Esch (55) during the third quarter of a NFC divisional round game at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

49ers RBs Christian McCaffrey, Elijah Mitchell both ailing

The San Francisco 49ers’ top two running backs, Christian McCaffrey and Elijah Mitchell, are dealing with injuries heading into Sunday’s NFC Championship Game at the Philadelphia Eagles.

McCaffrey aggravated a calf injury during last Sunday’s 19-12 divisional round playoff win over the Dallas Cowboys while Mitchell sustained a groin injury.

San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan termed both running backs as day-to-day on Monday during a conference call with reporters.

Shanahan also said defensive end Charles Omenihu (oblique) is day-to-day.

“We’re expecting to get them all back for Sunday,” said Shanahan, “but we’ll see how it goes through the week with practice and everything. Hopefully it’ll go well and that’ll get them ready for Sunday.”

Mitchell rushed for a game-high 51 yards on 14 carries against Dallas. McCaffrey rushed for 35 yards and one touchdown on 10 carries and caught six passes for 22 yards.

McCaffrey admitted after Sunday’s contest that playing against the Cowboys was a bit of a struggle physically.

“I was fighting but made it through, made it through great,” McCaffrey said.

McCaffrey rushed for 746 yards and six touchdowns and caught 52 passes for 464 yards and four scores in 11 regular-season games for the 49ers after being acquired from the Carolina Panthers in mid-October. He was superb in the NFC wild-card round when he gained 119 yards on 15 carries and added a TD catch in a 41-23 rout of the Seattle Seahawks.

Mitchell was limited to five regular-season games due to two knee injuries — one to each knee — and had 279 yards and two touchdowns. He had just 2 yards on nine carries versus Seattle but had a touchdown grab among his two catches for 25 yards.

Omenihu had a career-high 4.5 sacks during the regular season.

–Field Level Media