The Kansas City Chiefs have been without rookie LB Willie Gay Jr. since Week 17, but a new injury will knock him out for the Super Bowl and into the offseason.
According to multiple reports, Gay suffered a knee injury during the Chiefs’ practice session on Thursday. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said the injury was to his meniscus and that he has already undergone surgery to repair it. Gay was only listed as a limited participant in practice on Thursday for the team, but only with an ankle injury. He was still in the process of recovering from a high ankle sprain suffered against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 17.
The #Chiefs lost LB Willie Gay for the Super Bowl after he underwent surgery to repair his meniscus, source confirmed. A 4-month recovery, but he should be ready for 2021. https://t.co/EDoq7KwgBs
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 29, 2021
Obviously, the surgery will knock Gay out for Super Bowl LV and will extend his recovery into the offseason. Fans were looking forward to getting him back for the postseason as he’s been one of the better linebackers for Kansas City in limited opportunities this year. He’ll finish his rookie season having appeared in 16 games with eight starts. He recorded 39 total tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack, one QB hit, one forced fumble and three passes defended.
Rapoport says that he should be ready to play in 2021, but as we know with knee injuries, there can be lingering effects beyond his initial recovery. At the same time, missing out on an opportunity to play in the Super Bowl can be a big motivator. We saw it last year Chiefs rookie DB Juan Thornhill when he suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 17.
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