Game status: Sammy Watkins is ACTIVE for Super Bowl 55.
Game day update: WR Sammy Watkins is expected to play in the Super Bowl in spite of his questionable designation, per Adam Schefter. Meanwhile, Patrick Mahomes will play through a turf toe injury that will likely require surgery after the season, per Ian Rapoport.
The Kansas City Chiefs’ final injury report delivered no surprises, but that doesn’t mean it contained no bad news. While the team’s most important player will suit up this Sunday, multiple key members of his supporting cast will not. Meanwhile, the defense also will take the field without one of its promising young contributors.
Kansas City Chiefs final injury report
Out: T Eric Fischer (Achilles), LB Willie Gay (knee, ankle)
Doubtful: N/A
Questionable: WR Sammy Watkins (calf)
Notable players on in-week report: RB Le’Veon Bell (knee), RB Darwin Thompson (illness), RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire (ankle, hip), CB Rashad Fenton (foot), QB Patrick Mahomes (toe), T Mike Remmers (groin), CB L’Jarius Sneed (concussion), T Andrew Wylie (ankle)
How the team’s injuries may affect the Chiefs in the Super Bowl
To no one’s surprise, left tackle Eric Fisher will miss Super Bowl LV due to the Achilles injury he suffered in the AFC Championship Game. With Fisher on the shelf, the Chiefs will have to play without either of their preferred starters at tackle as All-Pro Mitchell Schwartz remains out with back issues. Their absences will force Mike Remmers and Andrew Wylie, both of whom appeared on the injury report earlier in the week, to handle the two bookend spots.
On the other side of the ball, rookie linebacker Willie Gay will also sit out due to multiple lower-body injuries. A part-time starter for coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s defense, Gay started to come on strong during the final stretch of the season, recording nine tackles and a tackle for loss during the Chiefs’ Week 16 victory over the Atlanta Falcons.
In slightly more positive news for Kansas City, wideout Sammy Watkins looks on track to play after practicing in full on Friday. Though the Chiefs have plenty of firepower on offense, Watkins has come up big in the playoffs, averaging just under 100 receiving yards last postseason. Patrick Mahomes also came off the injury report, though he did not miss any practice this week.