2 min read • January 25, 2022
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The following is a ranking of each remaining playoff team's overall health. SIC score subject to change based on new injury information.
The Chiefs remain the healthiest playoff team by a wide margin. Clyde Edwards-Helaire is back to playing effectively, while Jerick McKinnon has emerged as the No. 2 back with Darrel Williams dealing with a toe injury.
Despite the high overall SIC score, the Chiefs have issues in the secondary. Slot corner Rashod Fenton has missed two straight weeks with a back injury and strong safety Tyrann Mathieu suffered a concussion in the win over the Bills. If Kansas City is without those two this week, Joe Burrow and the Bengals' receiving core will have an edge.
The Rams have a lot of question marks on defense this week, but not all of them are bad. They have opened the practice windows for rookie inside linebacker Ernest Jones, starting nose tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day and slot cornerback Robert Rochell. Jones and Rochell have a solid chance to return this week, while it’s harder to see Joseph-Day return and play effectively from his torn pectoral tendon.
Starting free safety Taylor Rapp has missed the last two weeks with a concussion and is in danger of missing a third straight week if he can’t log a limited practice on Wednesday or Thursday. Running back Darrell Henderson Jr. could also return this week from an MCL sprain, but Cam Akers and Sony Michel are ahead of him right now on the depth chart.
The right side of Cincinnati’s offensive line is a big issue, as evident by the 9 sacks allowed to the Titans. Right guard Hakeem Adeniji and right tackle Isaiah Prince are big drop offs from Xavier Su’a-Filo and Riley Reiff, which could spell danger for Joe Burrow against Pro Bowl edge rusher Chris Jones, who had 9 sacks in the regular season.
Losing defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi to a foot injury in the Wildcard Round also leaves the Bengals vulnerable to the run. Third-year defensive tackle B.J. Hill will continue to fill in for Ogunjobi, but Cincinnati has no one who can match Ogunjobi’s run-stopping ability.
Trent Williams, the 9-time Pro Bowl left tackle, is the biggest injured player to watch this week. Williams injured his right ankle early in the third quarter, but finished the game with his ankle taped. X-rays on the ankle came back negative, but head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters Monday that Williams has “old components” involved in the ankle injury. He will likely suit up for the game, but it remains to be seen how effective he will be.
Versatile wide receiver Deebo Samuel was also injured in last Saturday’s win, but is expected to practice and more than likely will play like his usual self. Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo’s throwing arm injuries are nothing new, but could still give him issues with ball security and passing accuracy. Cornerback Ambry Thomas is another impact player to monitor. He has played his way into a significant role in the secondary, but missed last week with a knee injury.
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