Kyle Shanahan says Charles Omenihu will play if healthy

Charles Omenihu. Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

49ers HC Kyle Shanahan provides update on DE Charles Omenihu after arrest

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 1/25/23

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said defensive end Charles Omenihu will play in the team's NFC Championship Game on Sunday if he's healthy.

Omenihu was arrested by San Jose police Monday on a misdemeanor domestic violence charge.

#49ers Kyle Shanahan on Charles Omenihu:
We’re letting the legal process take care of itself, so if he’s healthy, he’ll play this week.
We’ve looked into it the last 48 hours, not only himself but other people. We don’t feel we should kick him off our team at this time.
— Cam Inman (@CamInman) January 25, 2023

According to reports, a woman told police that her boyfriend (Omenihu) pushed her to the ground during an argument on Monday. The 25-year-old was booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail later that day but posted bail.

On Tuesday, the 49ers announced that they were "in the process of gathering more information" on the matter. David Lombardi of The Athletic reported Wednesday afternoon that Omenihu will "likely" play in Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

The fourth-year pro out of Texas practiced in a limited fashion on Wednesday due to an oblique injury, which is a good sign for his potential availability on Sunday.

Omenihu spent the first two-plus seasons of his career with the Houston Texans, before being traded to San Francisco in November 2021. He's played in all 19 of the Niners' games this season (including the playoffs) and recorded a career-high 4.5 sacks during the regular season while adding two more in the team's wild-card round win against the Seattle Seahawks.

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