Tag: Mike Danna

Will Mike Danna play this week? Injury updates for Chiefs DL

Chiefs DL Mike Danna is dealing with a pectoral injury. Here are the latest updates.

The Kansas City Chiefs will be without one of their top-performing defensive ends against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday after Mike Danna was listed as out with a pectoral injury on the defending champions’ final injury report on Friday.

Mike Danna injury update

Mike Danna did not participate in any of the Chiefs’ practice sessions this week and was officially listed as out for Sunday’s Super Bowl LVIII rematch against the 49ers.

How long will Mike Danna be out?

It is unclear if Danna will miss next week’s Sunday afternoon matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders, but he will officially miss Week 7.

Chiefs DE depth chart

Since Danna will be unavailable this Sunday, Kansas City will rely heavily on Felix Anudike-Ozomah and George Karlaftis to lead its defense against San Francisco. The Chiefs are already without defensive ends B.J. Thompson and Charles Omenihu, who are both on injured reserve.

Chiefs Veteran defensive lineman ruled out for Week 7 vs. 49ers

Kansas City #Chiefs defensive lineman Mike Danna ruled out for Week 7 vs. San Francisco #49ers | @EdEastonJr

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid addressed the latest injury report with the media on Friday, finalizing the status of one of his veteran defensive linemen.

“As far as the injuries go, Mike (Danna) will be listed as out,” said Reid. “JuJu (Smith-Schuster) had a hamstring spasm yesterday but practiced today, so he will be listed as questionable, however, on the sheet there.”

Danna will miss his second game this season as he continues to deal with a pectoral injury that held him out of practice all week. The injury to “Smith-Schuster has sparked the possibility that practice squad receivers Justyn Ross or Nikko Remigio could be in the running for a roster elevation before Sunday. Reid has left the decision to the coaching staff as a wait-and-see scenario.

“We’ll see; I mean, we’re going to list him (JuJu Smith-Schuster) as questionable just in case something comes up,” said Reid, “but he did good today, so we’ll see how he does tomorrow, right? But he was good today.

The veteran receiver led the team in receiving during their Week 5 victory over the New Orleans Saints. He has seemingly fit back into his role from the 2022 season after Rashee Rice’s season-ending injury.

Chiefs vs. 49ers injury report: Latest status updates, news for Week 7

Take a look at the Kansas City #Chiefs’ first injury report for their Week 7 Super Bowl LVIII rematch against the San Francisco #49ers.

The undefeated Kansas City Chiefs will face the 3-3 San Francisco 49ers in a Super Bowl LVIII rematch on October 20 after getting some much-needed time off on their bye week.

The Chiefs were back to work on Wednesday and practiced for the first time after their brief hiatus. 

Defensive end Mike Danna was the only member of Kansas City’s roster who did not practice and was listed with a pectoral injury. His official status for the Chiefs’ matchup against the 49ers on Sunday is questionable.

Three other players were listed on Kansas City’s report, but all were full participants in Wednesday’s practice. Clyde Edwards-Helaire has an illness, wide receiver Mecole Hardman is dealing with a knee injury, and defensive lineman Derrick Nnadi has a triceps injury.

Check out the official release, which was posted to Twitter by the Chiefs’ official account:

 

Stay tuned to see how these players progress ahead of Sunday’s Week 7 matchup at Levi’s Stadium in San Francisco.

Chiefs scouting report: Ohio State Buckeyes DE Jack Sawyer

Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Jack Sawyer could be a target for the Kansas City #Chiefs in the 2025 NFL draft.

The Kansas City Chiefs have a few long-term answers at defensive end. Mike Dana signed a contract extension in April to remain with the team through the 2026 season, and George Karlaftis is trending toward earning an extension after his rookie deal expires. The Chiefs are still missing a reliable third option along the edge.

Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Jack Sawyer’s development took a massive leap in 2023. He uses a quick first step to get off the line and engage in hand-to-hand combat with the offensive tackle. His active and violent hands generate some knockback on contact.

Sawyer’s pass rush arsenal includes converting speed to power, swims, club-swims, spins, long-arms, rips, and cross-chops. While he knows a large variety of moves, Sawyer’s timing and deployment of his pass rush plan are inconsistent. He lacks elite bend to beat tackles around their outside shoulders consistently but gets low enough to turn the corner at the top of the arc.

Sawyer often relies on countering into the B-gap. He pushes linemen vertically before using his hands and momentum to pry open the B-gap and attack inside. Sawyer also uses inside swim, spin, and club counters, but he telegraphs these moves and makes them too easy to mirror.

Sawyer took his run defense to another level in 2023. He sets the edge well and times his block-shedding to separate from linemen and bring down the ball carrier. Sawyer plays with impressive effort in pursuit and delivers some big hits. His anchor gives out at the point of attack occasionally.

Sawyer and his teammate, J.T. Tuimoloau, form one of college football’s best pass-rush duos. Either defensive end could be in play for the Chiefs in the second round.

Ohio State travels to Eugene to face No. 3 Oregon on Oct. 12 at 6:30 p.m. CST. Both programs are 5-0 and feature multiple top-100 prospects. Oregon is the first of four ranked Big Ten teams remaining on Ohio State’s schedule.

Veteran Chiefs running back listed as ‘Doubtful’ for Week 5 game vs. Saints

Kansas City #Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire listed as ‘Doubtful’ for Week 5 game vs. New Orleans #Saints | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs have few players dealing with playable injuries while practicing this week ahead of Monday Night Football.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid addressed the media on Saturday to reveal the final injury report before Monday night’s game against the New Orleans Saints.

“Clyde (Edwards-Helaire) will be listed as doubtful but had a good week of practice; good to get back in the swing of things,” said Reid. “Mecole (Hardman) practiced today. I mentioned that, (he’s) questionable. Mike Danna did practice today, he did good.”

“Look forward to the opportunity to play the Saints. They have a good football team and are well-coached. Our guys had a good week of practice, and I look forward to bringing them in here to GEH Field at Arrowhead Stadium. So (it) should be a heck of an atmosphere and a great game.”

The listed improvement of defensive lineman Mike Danna after missing last week’s game with a calf injury is a welcome site before Monday. The Saints have already announced multiple players as OUT due to various injuries, including Taysom Hill, Willie Gay, Cesar Ruiz, Shane Lemieux, and Payton Turner.

Chiefs HC Andy Reid reveals injury status for veteran defensive lineman vs. Chargers

Kansas City #Chiefs head coach Andy Reid reveals injury status for defensive end Mike Danna vs. Los Angeles #Chargers | @EdEastonJr

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid shared the final injury update with reporters on Friday ahead of the Week 4 matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers.

“We’ve really just got Michael Danna, the only one,” Reid said. “After our walk-through, that calf was bothering him, so we’ll probably end up holding him out of the game until we get that thing calmed down a little bit.”

The former Michigan standout had 12 tackles and half a sack on the season before suffering the calf injury. Danna’s absence will likely mean playing time for Cameron Thomas, who was acquired in a trade from the Arizona Cardinals before the start of the season.

“Yeah, I think he’s ready to roll,” said Reid. “He’s a pretty sharp kid and plays hard, so he’s been working in there for the last few weeks.”

Thomas was a third-round selection in the 2022 NFL draft out of San Diego State. Though he’s played primarily as a linebacker, Thomas is best when utilized as a pass rusher on the defensive line. He has accumulated 40 tackles, three sacks, and a fumble recovery in his two-year career with the Cardinals.

Mike Danna explains his decision to re-sign with the Chiefs during free agency

Mike Danna explains his decision to re-sign with the Kansas City #Chiefs during free agency | @EdEastonJr

Many teams will lose players, and continuity at certain positions during the offseason changes during free agency around the league. The Kansas City Chiefs were fortunate enough to retain their core defensive line unit, and they look forward to maintaining dominance in the 2024 season.

Chiefs defensive lineman Mike Danna’s yearly improvement has paid off for one of the league’s top-tier units. On Wednesday after practice, he spoke with reporters about his camaraderie with teammates and desire to stay in Kansas City.

“We’re a big family, man. Those are the guys,” said Danna. “We always have communication, open communication. As soon as everybody got back together, we didn’t miss a beat. So it’s a blessing to be back in that room, man, and we gotta get after it.”

Danna agreed on a three-year deal to remain with the Chiefs during the offseason. The former fifth-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft has spent his entire career in Kansas City, growing each year in the system.

“This is where I birthed my career, started as a rookie, and there weren’t really too many other teams I really had in sight,” said Danna. I wanted to be back home with the guys, and it just felt like home, and that’s all I can really describe it as.”

Danna took advantage of his first opportunity with consistent playing time. He started all 16 games he played in 2023 and finished with 6.5 sacks. The coaching staff has praised him for his consistency and work ethic.

Mike Danna on re-signing with Chiefs: ‘I prioritize winning’

Mike Danna told reporters that the #Chiefs’ winning culture was a key factor in his decision to re-sign with Kansas City.

The offseason has seen plenty of player movement around the NFL. The opportunities to start new with different teams are enticing, but in the case of the Kansas City Chiefs, maintaining personnel with a focus on a three-peat is just as crucial.

A significant part of the Chiefs’ defensive improvement over the last few seasons has been the emergence of Mike Danna. The former Michigan Wolverine re-signed with Kansas City late last week and detailed his reasons for not exploring other teams during a Zoom press conference on Wednesday.

“I prioritize winning, the family I built here, [and] my brotherhood,” Danna explained. “Being here, I look forward to going to work every day, man. So it’s just like when you got that feeling… You don’t really want to let it go. There’s always elsewhere, but I had a lot of stuff invested here, a lot of work, a lot of grind, sweat, and tears.”

Danna was a starter last season for the Chiefs on their productive defensive line, starting all 16 games he played and finishing with 6.5 sacks.

“Why not go for the three-peat? Why not? Why wouldn’t you want to be a part of this journey? I prioritize winning, man,” said Danna. “There’s no organization right now that’s like this. That was my biggest thing. Prioritize winning my brotherhood I built here, and you know, it feels so good to be back.”

Danna’s decision was influenced by several factors, including the team’s dedication to growth and happiness in the culture. The talk of a three-peat immediately after Super Bowl LVIII has this year’s team motivated to make history in 2024.

Chiefs re-sign DE Mike Danna to three-year deal

The Kansas City #Chiefs are expected to re-sign veteran defensive end Mike Danna to a three-year contract.

The Kansas City Chiefs are keeping their core players on the defensive line intact for next season. The latest re-signing is defensive end Mike Danna, keeping him in Kansas City for next season and beyond.

According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, Danna has agreed to stay with Kansas City on a three-year deal. The 26-year-old has spent his entire NFL career with the Chiefs, starting all 16 games he played in 2023 and finishing with 6.5 sacks.

Since being selected in the 5th round of the 2020 NFL Draft, Danna took advantage of his first opportunity to be a consistent starter in 2023. He’s accumulated 128 tackles, 17 sacks, and four forced fumbles. He’s emerged as a trusted option for defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, who praised his work ethic.

Updated look at Chiefs’ pending free agents for 2024

Take a look at which #Chiefs players will be free agents in the 2024 offseason after Kansas City’s Super Bowl LVIII victory.

The Kansas City Chiefs officially defended their championship title after defeating the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday night.

While their work for the 2023 season is over, the team’s focus will now turn toward securing a third consecutive title next year to further cement Kansas City’s status as the NFL’s newest dynasty.

General manager Brett Veach may prefer that the team return all of its players next season, but history will show that players from Super Bowl squads don’t last long on the free agent market in the offseason.

Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Isiah Pacheco are all under contract for 2024, but other key contributors on Kansas City’s roster will have their chance to test the market to secure themselves huge paydays from teams vying for their services over the next few months.

Check out this list of all the Chiefs’ pending free agents ahead of the 2024 offseason: