We’ve finally determined 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 with all four teams battling injuries.
Below we’ll be breaking down the injury updates for the conference championship on Sunday. Who is in? Who’s out? Who is trending in the right direction? This is your one stop shop for all things injury related in the NFL.
All NFL odds through Caesars Sportsbook.
Cincinnati Bengals at Kansas City Chiefs (-1.5)
- chiefs: TE Travis Kelce (back), WR Justin Watson (disease), WR Mecole Hardman (pelvis) DOUBT
- Bengal: G Alex Cappa (ankle), T Jonah Williams (knee) OUT
Everyone had their eye on Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes this week as he suffered a high ankle sprain 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 was a full participant in practice all week, as were Jerick McKinnon (ankle) and linebacker Willie Gay Jr. (toe). With Mahomes starting, Travis Kelce is the Chiefs’ biggest injury concern. The first-team All-Pro was added to the injury report after his back was blocked on Friday. Kelce was listed as a true game-time decision for Sunday’s game, but he is active and will play. Wide receivers Mecole Hardman (pelvis) and Justin Watson (disease) are also questionable.
Meanwhile, the Bengals added Hayden Hurst to the team’s injury report ahead of Sunday’s AFC title rematch with the Chiefs. Hurst, who was not on the injury report on Wednesday, was out of practice on Thursday with a calf injury. On Friday, Hurst stated that he will be on the field when the Bengals play Kansas City on Sunday. Not all the injury news was good for Cincinnati, as offensive linemen Alex Cappa (ankle) and Jonah Williams (knee) were both ruled out for the second game in a row. Cappa has been out since injuring his ankle against the Ravens in Week 18, while Williams missed last week’s game after dislocating a kneecap during the Bengals’ playoff victory over Baltimore. Jackson Carman and Max Scharping are again expected to replace both players in the starting lineup.
