It’s been an NFL season like no other, but on Sunday night, two teams will meet in Tampa to determine the 2020 NFL Champion.
With two weeks off between the Conference Championship and the Super Bowl, both teams are getting healthier, but there are still a number of issues that could come into play. Here’s a breakdown of all the injury storylines heading into Super Bowl 55:
Kansas City Chiefs
| Player | Position | Injury | Wed | Thu | Fri | Game Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Eric Fisher
|
T | Achilles | DNP | DNP | DNP | Out |
|
Willie Gay
|
LB | Knee / Ankle | DNP | DNP | DNP | Out |
|
Le’Veon Bell
|
RB | Knee | LP | LP | FP | (-) |
|
Sammy Watkins
|
WR | Cal | LP | LP | FP | Questionable |
|
Clyde Edwards-Helaire
|
RB | Ankle / Hip | FP | FP | FP | (-) |
|
Rashad Fenton
|
CB | Foot | FP | FP | FP | (-) |
|
Patrick Mahomes
|
QB | Toe | FP | FP | FP | (-) |
|
Mike Remmers
|
OL | Groin | FP | FP | FP | (-) |
|
L’Jarius Sneed
|
DB | Concussion | FP | FP | FP | (-) |
|
Andrew Wylie
|
G | Ankle | FP | FP | FP | (-) |
|
Darwin Thompson
|
RB | Illness | (-) | (-) | DNP | (-) |
Injured Reserve: T Mitchell Schwartz, back; DE Taco Charlton, ankle; G Kelechi Osemele, knee.
- WR Demarcus Robinson and C Daniel Kilgore escaped a potential COVID-19 issue as the players were getting their hair cut, but both will play if they continue to test negative.
- Running back Le’Veon Bell (knee) and wide receiver Sammy Watkins (calf) were limited in practice this week. Both were full participants on Friday, however Watkins carries a “questionable” tag into Sunday’s game. Bell should play, although he will join a crowded backfield with Darrel Williams and Clyde Edwards-Helaire.
- LT Eric Fisher tore his Achilles in the AFC championship and LB Willie Gay tore his meniscus in practice. Both players are out for the Super Bowl. Veteran Mike Remmers will move to LT and Guard Andrew Wylie is the new RT. Remmers grades as the 30th best overall tackle in pass blocking by PFF and has not allowed a sack. Wylie has spent over 1,000 snaps at RG but only 115 at RT. He allowed 3 pressures and 1 sack on 97 pass block snaps at RT. It is a limited snap count at RT for Wylie but he did play 60 pass block snaps against a really good Saints defensive line and allowed 1 sack and 2 pressures.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
| Player | Position | Injury | Wed | Thu | Fri | Game Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Antonio Brown
|
WR | Knee | LP | FP | FP | Questionable |
|
Lavonte David
|
ILB | Hamstring | LP | LP | FP | (-) |
|
Mike Evans
|
WR | Knee | FP | FP | FP | (-) |
|
Chris Godwin
|
WR | Elbow | FP | FP | FP | (-) |
|
Jason Pierre-Paul
|
OLB | Knee | DNP | LP | DNP | (-) |
|
Jordan Whitehead
|
S | Shoulder | LP | LP | FP | (-) |
|
Antoine Winfield Jr.
|
S | Ankle | LP | LP | FP | (-) |
|
Cameron Brate
|
TE | Back | (-) | LP | DNP | Questionable |
|
Steve McLendon
|
DL | Not injury related | (-) | DNP | FP | (-) |
|
Ndamukong Suh
|
DL | Not injury related | (-) | (-) | DNP | (-) |
Injured Reserve: LB Jack Cichy, arm; G Alex Cappa, ankle; C AQ Shipley, neck; TE OJ Howard, Achilles.
- WR Antonio Brown (knee) was upgraded to a full participant on Thursday for the first time since the injury he suffered in the Divisional round. He missed the NFC Championship game with that knee injury. Despite practicing in full on Thursday and Friday, Brown is considered questionable. Scotty Miller will receive snaps if Brown is limited or out.
- TE Cameron Brate was added to the injury report on Thursday due to a back issue and was limited. He did not practice on Friday and is now listed as “questionable” for Sunday night. Brate has received at least five targets in each of Tampa Bay’s postseason games this season. Tanner Hudson could be the next man up if Brate can’t go. The Southern Arkansas product has played 12 offensive snaps in the postseason and has just 5 catches for 67 yards in his two years in the NFL.
- Safeties Jordan Whitehead (shoulder) and Antoine Winfield Jr. (ankle) were both limited again on Thursday. Winfield missed the NFC Championship game and Whitehead left the game with a shoulder injury. However, both were upgraded to full participation on Friday and are expected to play.
- LB Lavonte David tweaked a hamstring and has been limited the last two weeks at practice. The team is downplaying it and he will play but that is not an injury to take lightly in game.
- Jason Pierre-Paul missed practice on Wednesday with a knee injury but did practice on a limited basis on Thursday. He did not practice on Friday, but that has been his routine for the last few weeks. He will play on Sunday.
