The Kansas City Chiefs are in Las Vegas on Monday as preparations for Super Bowl LVIII's outing against the San Francisco 49ers are in full swing. As the team takes center stage for Opening Night festivities, all eyes are on the reigning champions with the most important game of the year on the horizon.
One Kansas City player getting plenty of recent attention is running back Jerick McKinnon. Over the weekend, the Chiefs opened the veteran halfback's 21-day practice window and designated him to return from injured reserve. While there are plenty of hoops to jump through — McKinnon is just over a month removed from surgery to correct a core muscle injury and fractured pelvis — his outlook remains something to monitor.
On Monday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network provided a fresh update on McKinnon's chances of playing on Sunday.
"Here's one to watch," Rapoport said. "Jerick McKinnon has been on injured reserve [and] had his practice window opened. My understanding is they're going to watch him this week, dealing with a groin injury, but there is a very real chance he plays on Sunday."
On Saturday, Joshua Brisco of Arrowhead Report wrote about the boost McKinnon would provide should he be able to play in the Super Bowl:
If McKinnon has even a chance of suiting up, there's no harm in opening the practice window with only eight days left in your season. But just one month removed from surgery and with only a few days of pre-Super Bowl practice, it's too soon to assume McKinnon will be available on Sunday. If he can return, it will be an amazing recovery timeline and the Chiefs would certainly be glad to have him back.
Expanding on Brisco's analysis, this is undoubtedly a significant development for Kansas City's offense. When on the field, McKinnon may be the team's second-best running back and in a worst-case scenario, he's an ideal complement to Clyde Edwards-Helaire working behind Isiah Pacheco on the depth chart. McKinnon played 264 snaps in 12 games during the regular season, scoring five touchdowns as a rusher and receiver and even throwing for another.
While McKinnon's best days are behind him and Father Time has sapped him of some athleticism, he's still a valuable piece to have. His willingness and toughness as a pass-blocker, combined with his consistency as a receiver, makes him a trusted third-down option. The next few days will provide additional clarity on whether he can pull off this miraculous comeback in time to finish the season on his terms. Although Rapoport's report isn't the bottom line, it adds to the intrigue of McKinnon's attempted return from IR.
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