Kansas City Chiefs DE Charles Omenihu is ahead of schedule in his recovery from a season-ending ACL injury suffered in the AFC Championship Game, at least according to one of his teammates who recently dealt with the same injury.
Chiefs DB Nazeeh Johnson recently joined our friend Cole DeRuse ( how bout those CHIEFS) to talk about his recovery and comeback from a season-ending ACL injury in 2023, among other things. DeRuse asked Johnson if he had chatted with and offered any encouragement to Omenihu as the defensive lineman deals with his own knee injury.
Johnson revealed that the two speak often and that Omenihu might be a bit ahead of schedule as he aims to make a return from the injury.
"We talk to each other every day when I see him in the facility or he texts me and calls me," Johnson said. "When he first tore it, he called me, and I was telling him how things go, to keep his head up and everything. He's looking at what I'm doing now (nine months since injury) and thinking he can do that now (three months since injury) and I was like, 'Bro, you've got to calm down a little bit.' But also, he's doing really well. He's actually ahead of his time, right now. I was just telling him everything he needs to focus on if he wants to get back and playing at a high level in the season. Also telling him about things that may hinder you, because I'm going through it right now. Just trying to give a positive outlook on things and give him a realistic outlook with his expectations."
It's no surprise to hear that Omenihu is eager to get back to work. He had a dominant 2023 NFL season, boasting seven sacks in 11 games played on top of an eighth sack in the playoffs. Omenihu hinted at a target date for a potential return to the field shortly after the NFL's schedule release. Most anticipate a mid-to-late season return for the productive defensive lineman.
Whether Omenihu is ahead of schedule or not, the good news is that he has a teammate like Johnson in his ear to make sure that he has everything necessary to get back on the field as quickly as possible. Both players will encounter challenges when it comes to making a comeback, but having each other to lean on will be advantageous as each looks to make a smooth return back into the lineup.
