• The Return: TE Mark Andrews is set to return for the Baltimore Ravens for the first time since Week 11.
• Injuries to watch: Impact skill position players such as Kansas City Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco and San Francisco 49ers WR Deebo Samuel will carry questionable designations into the weekend.
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Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
Two heavyweight matchups highlight conference championship weekend, and all four teams are at or near full strength.
The Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions will be without high-level starters on the interior of the offensive line in Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson respectively, and there is certainly concern around Isiah Pacheco’s availability as well as Deebo Samuel‘s status. Baltimore, on the other hand, looks to benefit from the return of two stars in TE Mark Andrews and CB Marlon Humphrey.
With just three games of NFL football remaining this season, hopes are high that all four teams can come out of the weekend clean and we get two exciting contests with a trip to Las Vegas on the line. Without further ado, let’s take a look at each matchup and how the handful of injuries might play a role.
Kansas City Chiefs @ Baltimore Ravens
- Kansas City: RB Isiah Pacheco (ankle/toe), WR Skyy Moore (knee), WR Kadarius Toney (hip)
- Baltimore: WR Tylan Wallace (knee)
The large concern heading into the weekend for the Chiefs is Isiah Pacheco’s status as he works through a toe injury. Pacheco was a non-participant Wednesday and Thursday but was able to practice in some capacity Friday, certainly providing some optimism. Nonetheless, if he is not 100%, expect Clyde Edwards-Helaire to receive the majority of the work vacated by Pacheco. At receiver, the Chiefs will be without Skyy Moore for at least another week as he returns from a knee injury while Kadarius Toney has been downgraded to out as well, continuing to put a lot on the shoulders of Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Justin Watson. Other notable players who will be sidelined for Kansas City include star left guard Joe Thuney and defensive lineman Derrick Nnadi. Willie Gay will also carry a questionable designation after being downgraded to a “DNP” on Friday due to a neck injury.
The Ravens roll into the conference championship weekend pretty healthy. The big news revolves around All-Pro tight end Mark Andrews and his expected return to the lineup as he recovers from an ankle injury that sidelined him for nine weeks. Depth receiver Tylan Wallace has not played the past few weeks due to a knee injury, and although he practiced a bit this week, hopes are not high that he will be able to contribute on Sunday. Defensively, the Ravens also expect cornerback Marlon Humphrey to return after he has been limited this week while cornerback Rock Ya-Sin will carry a questionable designation into the game.
Detroit Lions @ San Francisco 49ers
- Detroit: TE Brock Wright (forearm – IR), WR Josh Reynolds (ribs), TE Sam LaPorta (knee), WR Kalif Raymond (knee)
- San Francisco: WR Deebo Samuel (shoulder)
Detroit’s improbable run continues to the NFC Championship game, but they do face some significant injury question marks ahead of their matchup. Rookie phenom Sam LaPorta continues to be limited in practice, and behind him, tight end Brock Wright has been placed on injured reserve due to a forearm injury suffered in their divisional round victory, leaving just veteran Anthony Firkser behind LaPorta on a team that likes to utilize 12 personnel. Speedster Kalif Raymond remains sidelined this weekend due to his knee injury while fellow receiver Josh Reynolds was limited this week due to a rib injury. Nonetheless, Reynolds will have no designation for Sunday. Up front, the Lions will be without starting left guard Jonah Jackson while center Frank Ragnow ramped up practice this week and will be good to go after a couple of awkward hits to his lower leg last weekend.
The 49ers continue to be one of the healthier remaining teams, as they have just one major concern this week in Deebo Samuel, who exited the last weekend due to a shoulder injury and has been limited this week in practice. Expect him to start and play as usual, but don’t be shocked at another exit with his history of shoulder issues and physical play style. The 49ers also had linebacker Dre Greenlaw, cornerback Ambry Thomas and defensive lineman Arik Armstead on the injury report this week, but all practiced in full on Thursday and Friday, so there is little concern there.
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