Looking to get back to their championship ways, the Kansas City Chiefs have been largely disappointing in dropping two of their first three games. Some of the disappointment has stemmed from injuries to playmakers like Xavier Worthy, but there’s also a discussion about players who haven’t lived up to their building.
Charles Omenihu is one of those players that has been disappointing as he hasn’t been able to be a consistent force in the pass rush. While he sat on the market for a while this spring, he came back to Kansas City because it was the best chance to win and rehab his value, but he hasn’t done much to make any team want to commit to him long-term.
That could change in this week’s matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. With defensive end Mike Danna downgraded to doubtful on the team’s final injury report, Omenihu has a shot at an expanded role and could be the impact edge rusher the Chiefs need in order to take down the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday afternoon.
Charles Omenihu Could Benefit From Chiefs Injury Woes vs. Ravens
Omenihu’s time in Kansas City has been full of highs and lows. Omenihu first arrived in Kansas City before the 2023 season and responded with a career-high seven sacks in 11 games after missing the first six games due to a suspension from violating the league’s personal conduct policy. He tore his ACL during the Chiefs run to the Super Bowl and didn’t look like the same player when he returned, logging one sack in six games.
It may have been a surprise to see Omenihu return to the Chiefs on a one-year, $7 million contract this offseason. But through three games, it hasn’t been a pleasant one. According to Pro Football Focus, Omenihu has just two pressures on 73 snaps and his 37.9 overall grade ranks 122nd out of 124 qualifying edge rushers so far.
While Danna’s quad injury opens the door for Omenihu to get more snaps, he could also benefit from rookie Ashton Gillotte’s elbow injury, which kept him out of Friday’s practice and could allow Omenihu to see even more action.
If Omenihu takes advantage of the season, it may be enough to turn his season around. But if he doesn’t he could open himself up to be an expendable piece as the Chiefs look to climb out of their 1-2 start.
