Chiefs LB Nick Bolton suggests Charles Omenihu's return will bring the juice the defense desperately needs
The Kansas City Chiefs are on the brink of getting a key reinforcement on the defensive side of the ball. Chiefs DE Charles Omenihu suffered a season-ending ACL tear during last year's AFC Championship Game. It was a disappointing result for Omenihu, who had been one of the team's most productive pass rushers during the 2023 NFL […]
The Kansas City Chiefs are on the brink of getting a key reinforcement on the defensive side of the ball.
Chiefs DE Charles Omenihu suffered a season-ending ACL tear during last year's AFC Championship Game. It was a disappointing result for Omenihu, who had been one of the team's most productive pass rushers during the 2023 NFL season. He didn't get an opportunity to face his former team in the Super Bowl, but he's been hard at work to rehab and recover from the injury and pick up right where he left off.
Chiefs LB Nick Bolton spoke about Omenihu's impending return on Monday.
"Yeah, man, I think it'd be huge, for us and for him," Bolton said. "Just from a morale standpoint, we were all here when he hurt himself, going into the Super Bowl, and understand how important that was for him. So, he'll definitely be a problem for both sides of the D-Line again."
Omenihu had his 21-day practice window opened alongside RB Isiah Pacheco ahead of the team's Week 11 game against the Buffalo Bills. Neither player has been activated to the 53-man roster yet, but just as Omenihu posted on X this Saturday, "Time is ticking."
No. 90 could be activated to the 53-man roster for the team's Week 13 game against the Las Vegas Raiders. They played it safe a week ago, but this week was the target return date he hinted at over the summer. What will he bring to the table upon his return to the lineup? Bolton shared his thoughts there as well.
"Getting back into the lineup, I think he's understanding that he's a great rusher," Bolton said. "He brings that to the table for us. We could definitely use that in that department right now, especially with the guys going in at the lineup and being banged up. So, he brings that and also brings us some charisma, some energy. He brings his own personality. Coach Reid is big on that, letting personality show. And he's one of those guys that does that. I think he definitely brings that energetic side to our side of the ball."
As much as the Chiefs could use energy, what they could really use is a pass-rusher who can win one-on-one consistently to generate sacks. Omenihu was that guy a season ago for Kansas City with eight combined regular-season and postseason sacks. They'll hope he can do it again upon his return to the field.
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