Kansas City Chiefs receive major injury boost before Super Bowl rematch vs. 49ers

After early-season injuries to stars Isiah Pacheco and Rashee Rice, the Kansas City Chiefs have been waiting on good news on the injury front, and they may have found it on Friday. 

Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster did practice on Friday after being added to the team’s injury report on Thursday with a hamstring ailment. 

Kansas City head coach Andy Reid confirmed Smith-Schuster is on track to play on Sunday despite the exit from Thursday’s practice on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers.

Reid also stated Smith-Schuster will be listed as questionable on the team’s injury report ‘just in case’ he has an injury setback. 

Smith-Schuster was seen without limitations and running routes during Friday’s practice.

Smith-Schuster did exit Thursday’s practice with a hamstring injury but should be ‘fine’

Smith-Schuster is in his second stint with the Chiefs after playing for the team in 2022, ending with a win over the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl. 

In that championship game, Smith-Schuster had seven catches for 53 yards, second in yardage only to Travis Kelce. 

Smith-Schuster played for his first five NFL seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers and had a stint with the New England Patriots in between his stays in Kansas City. 

Rice is still the team’s leading receiver with Kelce and Xavier Worthy also garnering more receiving yards than Smith-Schuster’s 147 on the season. 

The Chiefs’ wide-receiving corps is arguably the team’s biggest weakness as they try to get the inside track for the first three-peat in the Super Bowl era. 

Then again, having Patrick Mahomes at quarterback makes up for many holes in the passing game.