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We’ve finally set 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 week 21 of the season and all four teams are struggling with injuries.
Below we will break down the injury updates for Conference Championship Sunday. Who’s in? Who is outside? 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.
Cincinnati Bengals at Kansas City Chiefs (-1.5)
- bosses: TE Travis Kelce (back), WR Justin Watson (illness), WR Mecole Hardman (pelvis) QUESTIONABLE
- Bengal: G Alex Cappa (ankle), T Jonah Williams (knee) OUT
Everyone had their eyes on Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes this week after he sprained his ankle in Saturday’s win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Despite that injury, head coach Andy Reid told reporters on Friday that Mahomes will start on Sunday, noting that “he’s moving well”. Mahomes has been a full participant in practice all week, as has running back Jerick McKinnon (ankle) and linebacker Willie Gay Jr. (toe). With Mahomes in attendance, the Chiefs’ biggest injury concern is Travis Kelce. The first-team All-Pro was added to the injury report after his back was suspended on Friday. Kelce is listed as a real game decision for the Sunday game. Wide receivers Mecole Hardman (pelvis) and Justin Watson (illness) are also questionable.
Meanwhile, the Bengals added Hayden Hurst to the team’s injury report before Sunday’s AFC title game is fought back against the Chiefs. Hurst, who was not on Wednesday’s injury report, was hampered in Thursday’s practice with a calf injury. On Friday, Hurst stated that he will be on the field when the Bengals meet Kansas City on Sunday. Not all injury news was good for Cincinnati, as starting offensive linemen Alex Cappa (ankle) and Jonah Williams (knee) were both ruled out for the second straight game. Cappa has been out since injuring his ankle in Week 18 against the Ravens, while Williams missed last week’s game after dislocating a kneecap in the Bengals’ playoff win over Baltimore. Jackson Carman and Max Scharping are expected to replace both players in the starting XI again.