Super Bowl Injury Report: Jerick McKinnon Could Give the Chiefs a Late Lift

The Super Bowl is just hours away, and we've already seen the final injury report. Upon first blush, it may be easy to overlook that update; at this point, there really won't be many surprises. But, ahead of the Big Game, there could be a key nugget buried at the bottom of the Kansas City Chiefs' update. And that involves running back Jerick McKinnon.

Again, the veteran running back could be easy to overlook. The reigning champs, after all, feature the likes of Patrick Mahomes on offense. Isiah Pacheco is also more than capable of handling the bulk of the backfield work.

But this is the Super Bowl, and any possible advantage is important. And with that in mind, McKinnon's status could be a low-key X-Factor for KC.

Let's break things down.

McKinnon Is Officially Questionable for the Super Bowl

In the world of sports, injuries can be an unfortunate equalizer. Whether you're a star player or a bench warmer, you can't play when your body doesn't cooperate. And that's what happened to McKinnon this season.

The running back last appeared on December 17 and went on injured reserve shortly after. There were also reports of core muscle surgery, suggesting the severity of the problem.

Last weekend, Chiefs fans saw a glimmer of hope, as the club opened McKinnon's practice window. Head coach Andy Reid, however, threw some cold water onto the optimism. "Jerick is not practicing," he explained. "I tell you: it's slim [odds] for him to be out there."

With the game approaching, though, there could be a late audible.

On the club's final injury report, McKinnon has been activated and officially received a "questionable" designation. Nothing is guaranteed—questionable speaks for itself, and the team and player will presumably come to a decision sometime before kickoff —that status suggests there's at least a chance that the veteran can figure into the final contest.

McKinnon Could Be a Help Against the 49ers

McKinnon doesn't exactly have a high profile compared to some of his offensive teammates. But that doesn't mean he couldn't make an impact in the Big Game.

Defensively, the 49ers are headlined by Nick Bosa. The sack artist is an ace at pressuring the quarterback, and he'll be a key part of San Francisco's success. While things have turned around recently, KC's offense struggled to sustain drives earlier this season, whether it was due to drops, penalties or other mistakes. Suffering a big sack during the Super Bowl could bring those issues back to the forefront; it's simply hard to keep things rolling when you're facing second-and-15.

And while you might not think of McKinnon as an answer to that looming problem, the running back is a capable pass blocker. In January 2023, he spoke about that role.

"Passion...I got 'little-man syndrome,'" he explained, according to a Chiefs Wire write-up. "Yeah, I got little-man syndrome, so I don't know, maybe that's what it is. And then like I was saying to someone earlier, it was something that I've never done in college, so obviously coming to the league, it being new and something I had to work at. [I] accepted the challenge and it has gotten me this far and [it's] something that going to keep you around as a running back in this league. So, I take big pride in that area – more than running and catching the ball – for real."

Will his (possible) presence mean Mahomes can sit back in a beach chair all night? Probably not, but you'd never choose to enter a championship game short-handed.

Beyond that, McKinnon has also proven to be a capable pass-catcher out of the backfield. Screens and short passes might not be exciting, but they are another way to slow down a potent pass rush. He also has a solid pair of hands (never dropping more than four passes across any individual season), which could be useful for keeping drives alive.

McKinnon's "questionable" status could be a genuine attempt to see if he's able to go, or it could be a ploy to force the 49ers to spend a bit of time preparing for his potential presence. And if he does dress, there's nothing to say that he'll be effective; his short recovery time could mean the running back is only capable of taking part in a few plays.

At this point, there's no way of knowing what the not-so-distant future holds. If McKinnon can play a somewhat normal role, though, his presence will be worth watching.