Kansas City Chiefs defensive end provides injury update following surgery

Charles Omenihu, a Kansas City Chiefs defensive end, is in rehab after surgery to repair a ruptured ACL he suffered in January.

Omenihu provided an update on his rehab on June 3 via X, which was formerly Twitter.

“Surgery knee, by the way. Three months after OP (surgery). They said I wouldn’t be the same. Keep doubting. “Vengeance OTW,” Omenihu said in the caption of a video showing him working out his right knee (the one he damaged).

Omenihu, 27, sustained a torn ACL during the AFC Championship game against the Baltimore Ravens. Though he was convinced he’d be ready for the 2024 Super Bowl, subsequent tests revealed Omenihu had torn his ACL and would be unable to play. He had surgery for the injury on February 20, according to NFL Media’s James Palmer.

Omenihu is projected to miss some of the 2024 season due to the recuperation time for that type of injury. However, if Omenihu is able to return from a serious injury in time for the start of the 2024 regular season, he would not be the first NFL player to do so.

Charles Omenihu Wants More Money But Must Earn It First

Omenihu told Inside Texas’ Justin Wells in an interview published on February 26 that he continues to be motivated by the belief that he is underpaid.

“The biggest way how I keep my chip on my shoulder now is I feel like I should be paid more,” Omenihu stated. “I feel like I should be included, but not in the same context as Myles Garrett or Bosa. Maybe not in that discussion, but the second-tier players? What about the following tier? Certainly, I should participate in that discussion.”

Omenihu made similar comments when he joined the NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football” crew the same day.

“I think I did, to be honest,” Omenihu said when asked if he thinks he’s done enough to get a new deal. “Like you said, seven sacks in 11 games and then the sack in the championship game to kind of spark off the wave of defensive plays. Finished second on the team in sacks and didn’t have the first six games to catch up with George [Karlaftis] and Chris [Jones]. I think I did, I think the tape speaks for itself. I think I showed dominant run play and then with the pass rush, inside and outside and just winning one-on-ones, creating turnovers, being the spark and, like, the energy plays they wanted me to be when I got there.”

Charles Omenihu Had Great First Season With Chiefs

Omenihu recorded 29 total quarterback pressures (17 hurries, 7 sacks, 5 hits), 13 stops, and 2 caused fumbles in 11 regular season games in 2023, according to Pro Football Focus. In three playoff games, he had eight total QB pressures (7 hurries, 1 sack), one stop, and one forced fumble.

Omenihu has one year remaining on his two-year, $16 million contract with the Chiefs, which includes a $10.9 million cap charge in 2024, according to Over The Cap.

If he can produce similarly in 2024 while remaining healthy throughout the season, there’s little doubt that either the two-time defending Super Bowl champions or another team will offer Omenihu a contract in 2025 that exceeds his current agreement with Kansas City.