by Finally, we’ve established our final four for the 2022 NFL season, and now it’s time to decide which teams will play in Super Bowl LVII. The San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Cincinnati Bengals and Kansas City Chiefs enter what is Week 21 of the season, and all four teams are dealing with injuries.
Below, we’ll break down the injury updates for the conference championship Sunday. Who’s in? Who’s out? Who is trending in the right direction? This is your one-stop shop for all things injury related in the NFL.
All NFL odds via Caesars Sportsbook.
San Francisco 49ers at Philadelphia Eagles (-2.5)
The Eagles had a brief injury report Wednesday. Right tackle Lane Johnson was limited in practice with his groin injury, while cornerback Avonte Maddox was limited with a toe problem. Both players were also limited during Thursday’s practice.
The 49ers have had more extensive injury reports this week as running back Christian McCaffrey (calf), running back Elijah Mitchell (groin) and quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (ankle) have missed the team’s last two practices. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday that both McCaffrey and Mitchell were day to day, and that he expects the former to play on Sunday. Wide receiver Deebo Samuel and cornerback Ambry Thomas were limited participants with ankle injuries the past two days, while defensive end Charles Omenihu has been limited with an oblique problem.
Cincinnati Bengals at Kansas City Chiefs (-1)
All eyes are on Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes this week as he suffered a high ankle sprain in Saturday’s win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Despite that injury, head coach Andy Reid told reporters Friday that Mahomes will start Sunday, noting that “he’s moving well.” Mahomes was also a full participant in training on both Wednesday and Thursday. Chiefs running back Jerick McKinnon has also been a full participant with an ankle problem, and linebacker Willie Gay Jr. also practiced fully for the last two days with a toe injury. Wide receiver Mecole Hardman was the only Chiefs hampered in practice the past two days, and has been a limited participant with the pelvic injury.
Meanwhile, the Bengals added Hayden Hurst to the team’s injury report ahead of Sunday’s AFC title game with the Chiefs. Hurst, who was not on the injury report Wednesday, was limited during Thursday’s practice with a calf injury. On Friday, Hurst announced that he will be on the field when the Bengals face Kansas City on Sunday.
Not all of the injury news was good for Cincinnati. Bengals coach Zac Taylor said Friday that he do not predict starting offensive linemen Alex Cappa and Jonah Williams could play on Sunday. Cappa has been out since injuring his ankle against the Ravens in Week 18. Williams missed last week’s game after dislocating his kneecap during the Bengals’ playoff win over Baltimore. Jackson Carman and Max Scharping are once again expected to replace both players in the starting lineup.
