We’ve finally set our Final Four for the 2022 NFL season, and now it’s time to decide which teams will play in Super Bowl LVII. The San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Cincinnati Bengals and Kansas City Chiefs enter week 21 of the season and all four teams are struggling with injuries.
Below we will break down the injury updates for Conference Championship Sunday. Who’s in? Who is outside? Who is trending in the right direction? This is your one stop shop for all things injury related in the NFL.
All NFL odds via Caesars Sportsbook.
San Francisco 49ers at Philadelphia Eagles (-2.5)
- Eagle: NONE
- 49ers: QB Jimmy Garoppolo (foot) OUT; RB Elijah Mitchell (groin), CB Ambry Thomas (ankle) QUESTIONABLE
The Eagles had a brief injury report this week. Right tackle Lane Johnson (groin) and cornerback Avonte Maddox (toe) were limited Wednesday and Thursday but trained fully on Friday. Neither player has an injury designation. Linebacker TJ Edwards was added to Friday’s injury report with an ankle injury that limited him in practice, but he also has no injury designation.
The 49ers had a fuller injury report this week, as running back Christian McCaffrey (calf), running back Elijah Mitchell (groin) and quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (ankle) all missed the team’s first two practice sessions. McCaffrey will play after fully training on Friday and has no injury designation, but Garoppolo remains out and Mitchell is questionable. None of the players trained on Friday either. The only other 49er with an injury designation is cornerback Ambry Thomas, who was sidelined all week with an ankle problem.
Cincinnati Bengals at Kansas City Chiefs (-1.5)
- bosses: TE Travis Kelce (back), WR Justin Watson (illness), WR Mecole Hardman (pelvis) QUESTIONABLE
- Bengal: G Alex Cappa (ankle), T Jonah Williams (knee) OUT
Everyone had their eyes on Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes this week after he sprained his ankle in Saturday’s win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Despite that injury, head coach Andy Reid told reporters on Friday that Mahomes will start on Sunday, noting that “he’s moving well”. Mahomes has been a full participant in practice all week, as has running back Jerick McKinnon (ankle) and linebacker Willie Gay Jr. (toe). With Mahomes in attendance, the Chiefs’ biggest injury concern is Travis Kelce. The first-team All-Pro was included on Friday’s injury report with a back injury. Despite intensive training, Kelce is ruled doubtful for Sunday’s game. Wide receivers Mecole Hardman (pelvis) and Justin Watson (illness) are also questionable.
Meanwhile, the Bengals added Hayden Hurst to the team’s injury report before Sunday’s AFC title game is fought back against the Chiefs. Hurst, who was not on Wednesday’s injury report, was hampered in Thursday’s practice with a calf injury. On Friday, Hurst stated that he will be on the field when the Bengals meet Kansas City on Sunday. Not all injury news was good for Cincinnati, as starting offensive linemen Alex Cappa (ankle) and Jonah Williams (knee) were both ruled out for the second straight game. Cappa has been out since injuring his ankle in Week 18 against the Ravens, while Williams missed last week’s game after dislocating a kneecap in the Bengals’ playoff win over Baltimore. Jackson Carman and Max Scharping are expected to replace both players in the starting XI again.