We’re still over a week away before the Kansas City Chiefs take the field in Super Bowl LV and there is promising news regarding two injuries Kansas City has dealt with throughout the playoffs.
According to a report from ESPN’s Dianna Russini, Chiefs WR Sammy Watkins and RB Le’Veon Bell are both expected to be ready to play in the Super Bowl. Watkins missed both the divisional-round game against the Cleveland Browns and the AFC title game against the Buffalo Bills. Bell was only absent from the Bills game this past Sunday.
Watkins has been dealing with a calf injury that he suffered during practice back in Week 11. It came on the heels of a hamstring injury that Watkins was recovering from and kept him out an extra week. He reaggravated the injury in Week 16 against the Atlanta Falcons and has been out ever since. Bell is dealing with swelling in his knee that popped up during the past week of practice. He missed the final two days of practice ahead of the AFC title game and was subsequently ruled out.
Getting Watkins back on the field is a big deal for the Chiefs. He’s earned the nickname of “Playoff Sammy” because of his performances in each of the past two postseasons for Kansas City. Watkins has combined for 24 catches for 464 yards and one touchdown in five postseason appearances with the Chiefs. When teams try and take away Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce, it’s always Watkins who has come up big. His heroics in Super Bowl LIV stand out, like his play against Richard Sherman on a long catch late in the fourth quarter. It helped Kansas City to a comeback win and their first Super Bowl title in 50 seasons.
In addition to the news on Watkins and Bell, Russini reports that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers expect to get back Antonio Brown and Antoine Winfield, who both missed the NFC title game with injuries.
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