Tag: NFL Playoffs

Bryan Cook injury updates: Latest news on Chiefs safety

#Chiefs safety Bryan Cook is dealing with a quad injury. Here are the latest updates. 

The Kansas City Chiefs released their latest injury report on Friday ahead of their matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX.

Veteran safety Bryan Cook was listed on all three of Kansas City’s injury reports this week.

Will Cook’s availability be affected by his injury heading into Super Bowl LIX?

Bryan Cook injury update

Cook is listed with a quad injury, but it did not impact his ability to participate in drills at Kansas City’s practices this week.

How long will Bryan Cook be out?

Cook is not expected to miss any time due to his condition and is sure to be a key contributor for the Chiefs when they face off against the Eagles in Super Bowl LIX.

Chiefs FS depth chart

Cook’s projected backup is up-and-coming defensive back Chamarri Conner. Rookie safety Chris Roland-Wallace could also be called upon to fill in for Cook in a pinch.

Kareem Hunt injury updates: Latest news on Chiefs RB

#Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt is dealing with a quad injury. Here are the latest updates. 

Kareem Hunt was instrumental in the Kansas City Chiefs’ victory over the Buffalo Bills in last Sunday’s AFC Championship Game, and figures to play a key role in the team’s game plan for its Super Bowl LIX matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles.

While he has gotten through the season with minimal health concerns, Hunt was listed on the Chiefs’ estimated injury report on Wednesday, which was released during their week bye ahead of Super Bowl LIX.

Are there concerns Hunt could be absent when Kansas City takes on the Philadephia Eagles in the Super Bowl?

Kareem Hunt injury update

Hunt was listed on the Chiefs’ Wednesday injury report due to an issue with his quad. However, it was estimated that Hunt would have been a full participant in practice, had the team run drills on Wednesday, and he was removed from Kansas City’s injury reports for the rest of the week.

How long will Kareem Hunt be out?

Hunt is not expected to miss any time due to his condition after he was removed from the Chiefs’ injury report on Thursday and Friday.

Chiefs RB depth chart

The Chiefs’ ground game is dominated by running backs Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco. Expect to see Samaje Perine get a few carries in, as well as a potential snap or two for the fourth-string rookie Carson Steele.

Patrick Mahomes injury updates: Latest news on Chiefs QB

#Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is dealing with an ankle injury. Here are the latest updates. 

Kansas City Chiefs released their latest injury report on Friday ahead of a highly anticipated Super Bowl LIX matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles on February 9.

According to the report, star quarterback Patrick Mahomes is still dealing with a lingering ankle injury.

Will Mahomes be able to play in Kansas City’s tilt against Philadelphia?

Patrick Mahomes injury update

Mahomes battled through his ankle injury this week and was a full participant in all of the Chiefs’ practice sessions after Kansas City’s win over the Buffalo Bills on Friday.

How long will Patrick Mahomes be out?

Mahomes’ condition didn’t affect his ability to practice this week, so it would be a huge surprise if his availability for Super Bowl LIX was impacted by the ankle injury he is dealing with.

Chiefs QB depth chart

Mahomes’ only backup is veteran signal-caller Carson Wentz, who started one game for the Chiefs in Week 18 of the regular season.

Ian Rapoport says the Broncos aren’t there yet, but they will be

“The Broncos aren’t there yet … I think they will be,” Ian Rapoport said of Denver’s long-term outlook.

In theory, the Denver Broncos were a year early. Although Sean Payton’s hire signaled that the Broncos should head back to playoff contention, typically, you don’t go to the playoffs with a rookie quarterback.

Enter the Broncos and the Washington Commanders. Denver featured rookie quarterback Bo Nix, and the Commanders currently have Jayden Daniels. The Broncos won ten games the hard way, going 10-7 before losing to the Buffalo Bills in the wild-card round of the playoffs. 

Although the Broncos showed that a culture change is happening, Ian Rapoport believes that the Broncos aren’t there yet. Speaking with KOA Radio, Rapoport told Broncos Country that the team’s future is bright despite the playoff loss.

“The better team won, and I think that’s okay,” Rapoport said of the Bills game. “The more talented team won … the Broncos aren’t there yet … I think they will be.”

Check out the full clip below.

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Commanders free agents who could be targets for Cardinals

A few players on the Commanders could be free agent targets for the Cardinals in the offseason.

The Washington Commanders were eliminated from the postseason on Sunday, losing in the NFC Championship Game 55-23 to the Philadelphia Eagles. Now they transition to the offseason like all but two teams.

They have a number of players set to become free agents in March.

Some would fill needs the Arizona Cardinals have.

Below are some names to know about from Washington who might be targets in March for the Cardinals when free agency begins.

Potential Cardinals free agent targets on Commanders

EDGE Dante Fowler

Fowler is 30 years old but had 10.5 sacks in 2024, his best season since 2019 when he had 11.5 sacks for the Rams. If the Cardinals are to take the next big step, they might have to go with an older player at some positions to get the production they need in the short term.

LB Mykal Walker

Walker is an off-ball linebacker and has both starting and special teams experience.

WR Dyami Brown

Greg Dortch, Zach Pascal and Zay Jones will be free agents. Brown had a career-high 30 receptions for 308 yards in 2024. He lined up primarily outside for the Commanders but can play both inside and out.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

Nate Burleson said everyone should bask in the Chiefs’ greatness (and no one will listen)

Nate Burleson was so unbelievably corny here.

With all due respect to CBS analyst Nate Burleson, he couldn’t be more out of touch.

As swaths of NFL fans seemingly roosted in pervasive angst about another Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl appearance on Sunday, Burleson took time to break the fourth wall and scold people for not wanting to see a team that will have now officially played in five of the last six Big Games. You know, because it’s boring, exhausting, and expressly against the “underdog” story America usually prefers for obvious reasons in its sports outcomes and otherwise.

READ MORE: Josh Allen said two tragic words before Buffalo Bills’ doomed final possession.

Honestly, it was a bizarre moment that will assuredly resonate with almost no one outside of the Kansas City metropolitan area:

Speaking purely for myself now, I don’t know who this admonishing speech is supposed to be for. I don’t watch sports for “greatness.” Unless it’s a team I root for, I don’t consider myself lucky to be alive at the same time as a sports dynasty that will otherwise have no tangible effect on my life outside of that sports context. Given the excessive, inherent flattery, this was a strange way to frame people not wanting the same football outcome they’ve watched for half a decade now.

I watch sports for the tremendous athletic feats. I watch for the athletes playing as one for a common goal while pouring their hearts out together. If I’m a neutral party — meaning, I’m not a fan of either team in a high-stakes game — I’m rooting for the squad that has never broken through and won it all. In Sunday’s case, that was the Bills.

But alas, they couldn’t pull it out.

I don’t have to be happy for the Chiefs or appreciate all of their accomplishments. Because that’s not why I’m here in the first place.

And I suspect many others feel the same.

Josh Allen’s apparent confident words before Bills’ doomed last possession were so tragic

Josh Allen is living out his worst nightmare.

The Buffalo Bills almost did it.

In the closing moments of the AFC title game, they had the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs on the ropes. But with the game on the line, the Bills’ offense folded. Their last possession of the evening was capped by a brutal fourth-down drop from tight end Dalton Kincaid, even though Josh Allen gave him a chance to make the play.

In the end, the Chiefs closed the Bills out by getting a couple of first downs to cement a third straight trip to the Super Bowl.

All of this was particularly tragic given what Josh Allen appeared to say on camera before the Bills’ offense took the field for the last time. As the Chiefs took a 32-29 lead, Allen was captured seemingly saying, “I’m ready,” as if he was ready for his moment to take the Bills to the Super Bowl.

Given what happened after, this sequence now looks so deflating for the superstar quarterback:

Man. You have to feel bad for one of the best players of his generation.

Every time Allen has had a chance to upend the NFL’s latest dynasty, it feels like the Bills have spontaneously combusted for no good reason.

Alas. Allen and his teammates will just have to try again next year.

1 James Cook photo of his Herculean effort on Bills TD belongs in a museum

James Cook’s effort here was unbelievable.

Don’t let anyone say James Cook didn’t put his heart on the line in Sunday’s AFC title game between the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs.

In a budding instant classic, with Buffalo in position to take the lead for the first time all game at the end of the third quarter, Josh Allen and the Bills’ offense elected to put the ball in Cook’s hands on a fourth-and-goal play at the goal line.

Let’s just say Cook didn’t disappoint.

After Allen lateraled the ball to Cook, it looked like he’d be stopped short. Instead, Cook held himself up with one hand while getting tackled to reach across the goal line and scored one of the best touchdowns all year in the process:

I mean, that’s just unreal.

The photo below makes Cook’s sequence seem even more unbelievable:

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Man, it doesn’t get any better than playoff football, does it?

Tom Brady explained the Super Bowl like it was a new concept at end of Eagles’ NFC title win

Tom Brady seems to think no one has ever heard of the Super Bowl before.

At this point, you’re probably well aware of how little Tom Brady brings to NFL broadcasts as a highly-compensated color commentator. His analysis is equivalent to what a half-baked AI gives you on a search engine. You already know what’s being regurgitated back to you. Chances are, part of it is wrong, too. It’s like he thinks everything he says has inherent value because of his reputation, regardless of context.

(And, unfortunately, Brady’s also not going anywhere.)

But what Brady said at the end of the Philadelphia Eagles’ NFC title win on Sunday takes the cake.

Dearest readers, as the clock ran out on Philadelphia’s second Super Bowl berth in three years, Brady was literally explaining everything that comes with the biggest American sporting event as if no one stateside has ever heard of the Super Bowl.

Dude, come on.

Sometimes, it’s better to say nothing at all and let the moment breathe if you’re just going to state the extremely obvious:

In case you’re tired of hearing Brady talk to viewing audiences like they’ve never watched football before, I have really bad news. He’s gonna call Super Bowl 59 in two weeks in New Orleans.

Ugh. Everyone has it better than us, folks.

Philadelphia Eagles are home team in Super Bowl 59

Who is the home team in Super Bowl 59?

The Philadelphia Eagles will represent the NFC in Super Bowl 59 at the Superdome in New Orleans.

The way it works with home and away teams in Super Bowls is the AFC is the home team in even-numbered Super Bowls.

The odd-numbered games make the NFC team the home team.

That makes the Eagles the home team in Super Bowl 59.