SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Coach Kyle Shanahan said Charles Omenihu remains a candidate to play in Sunday’s NFC Championship Game, despite the 49ers defensive lineman’s arrest Monday on suspicion of misdemeanor domestic violence.
Shanahan, speaking before Wednesday’s practice, said: “We’re letting the legal process take care of itself, so if he’s healthy, he’ll play this week.
“We’ve looked into it the last 48 hours, not only himself but other people,” Shanahan added. “We don’t feel we should kick him off our team at this time.”
The NFL apparently has no objection, as a league spokesman said Tuesday: “The matter will be reviewed under the league’s personal conduct policy. There is no change to his status.”
Omenihu was not present in the 49ers’ locker room during the media access period Wednesday before practice.
The No. 2-seed 49ers leave Friday afternoon for Philadelphia, where they’ll face the top-seeded Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field for a spot in Super Bowl LVII.
Omenihu, 25, was booked into Santa Clara County jail Monday night and released on bail. Police, responding to a call, had arrived at his Santana Row home where a woman told them Omenihu is her boyfriend and that he “pushed her to the ground during an argument.” She complained of arm pain, but officers “did not observe any visible physical injuries” and she declined medical attention, according to a police news release.
A reserve defensive lineman, Omenihu has played every game and played a starring role in their playoff win over Seattle two weeks ago. An injury limited him to 15 snaps in last Sunday’s victory over Dallas. He joined the 49ers in a November 2021 trade with the Houston Texans, who selected him in the 2019 draft’s fifth round out of the University of Texas.
