We have some encouraging news for the Kansas City Chiefs on the injury front after seeing much attrition during the AFC Championship Game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Chiefs HC Andy Reid updated media members following the AFC title game win on several injuries, but he left out a key player. Willie Gay Jr. was deemed questionable to return with a shoulder injury suffered during the second half of the game. He never ended up returning during the game, but he was spotted during postgame celebrations. As things get underway ahead of the Super Bowl, there’s a new report that suggests the injury won’t keep him out of the big game.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Gay is optimistic about being able to play in Super Bowl LVII against the Philadelphia Eagles. Fowler says that the early tests on Gay’s shoulder injury were encouraging.
Chiefs LB Willie Gay is optimistic about playing in the Super Bowl despite hurting his shoulder Sunday vs. Cincinnati, per source. Early tests were encouraging.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) January 31, 2023
Gay started 13 regular-season games with Kansas City this season, recording 88 total tackles, nine tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, eight passes defended, an interception and a fumble recovery. He recorded a half-sack against the Bengals in the AFC title game before leaving the game with his shoulder injury.
Gay is often on the field alongside Nick Bolton and has proven to be one of the team’s biggest assets at the linebacker position. His athleticism and quickness to close are unrivaled on the current 53-man roster. Having him healthy for an Eagles team that boasts a dual-threat quarterback and a number of talented running backs will be vital for the Chiefs’ chances in the Super Bowl.
We’ll surely learn more about Gay’s health and status as practice gets underway in Arizona next week.
