Chiefs-Eagles Super Bowl LIX injury preview

Super Bowl LIX is only days away, and a champion of the 2024 NFL season will soon be crowned. In a rematch of Super Bowl LVII only two seasons ago, the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles will soon take the field — with one team having at least one edge over the other.

As a result of their schedule management at the end the season, the Chiefs enter the Super Bowl remarkably healthy. Meanwhile, the Eagles are relatively healthy but do have some more question marks going into the Super Bowl rematch.

Chiefs’ injury outlook

The Chiefs will play in Super Bowl LIX with no major injury concerns. This is a remarkable achievement, given the plethora of injuries the team dealt with throughout the course of the season.

Wide receiver Skyy Moore (abdomen) has the possibility of being activated to the active roster for Super Sunday. However, even with an activation, he does not figure to be a major part of the Chiefs’ game plan. Moore has not played since October and has logged no receptions during the season.

Eagles’ injury outlook

The Eagles enter the Super Bowl with a longer injury report and more question marks. As a team built around their running game and perhaps the best offensive line in football, they have two concerns along the offensive line. Center Cam Jurgens (back) and All-Pro guard Landon Dickerson (knee) are both banged up.

Jurgens could not start in the NFC Championship due to his back injury, while Dickerson slid over to start at center. Dickerson then injured his knee, and Jurgens came back into the game in the second half. The severity of Dickerson’s knee injury has not been revealed, but there’s no concern he will not be available.

While both players will play and start in the Super Bowl, neither will be at one hundred percent. This could be a problem as the interior offensive line faces a tough matchup with All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones.

Another injury concern entering the Super Bowl is wide receiver Devonta Smith (hamstring). Smith suffered a hamstring strain in Week 11 this season, missing two weeks after the injury. Soft tissue injuries, especially hamstring injuries, can linger. Smith will play in the Super Bowl. His limited practice designation is simply load management to get him as healthy as possible for Sunday.

Smith will not be at one hundred percent in the matchup, going against a fully healthy and battle-tested Chiefs’ secondary.

Philadelphia could have some good news on the injury front, as three players on the Reserve/Injured list have practiced this week and could be activated. This includes 15-year veteran defensive end Brandon Graham (triceps tear), wide reciever Britain Covey (neck) and tight end CJ Uzomah (abdomen).

Graham injured his triceps in Week 7. Returning from a triceps tear after a little more than three months is a very quick rehab. At this point in Graham’s career, he is more of a role player and emotional leader. The Eagles will get a boost if he’s able to return, but don’t expect a high snap count. Covey is the Eagles’ punt returner, and was placed on IR in Week 13. He practiced in the lead-up to the NFC Championship but was not available. Uzomah was injured in Week 17 and serves as depth in the tight end room.

The Eagles will be without linebacker Nakobe Dean, who tore his patellar tendon in the NFC Wild Card game. This injury will likely keep Dean out from the beginning of the 2025 season as well. Dean started 15 games for the Eagles in the regular season.

The bottom line

Injury reports should be read differently in the postseason, especially for the Super Bowl. Even if players log limited practices, they will give everything they have to be available for the game. Players returning from IR are likely returning sooner than they normally would but giving it one last shot to play in the Super Bowl.

After a seven-month grind beginning in training camp, the end of another season is upon us. Injuries will be no excuse for either team on Monday morning, but they will certainly play a role in the matchup.

The Chiefs have one more game to cement themselves as one of — if not the greatest dynasty in the NFL of all time. They’ve put themselves in a prime position to accomplish the three-peat.

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