When the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship, there will be plenty of factors that will determine this game. Both teams are obviously playing well to get to this point, so any small changes could impact the outcome. What are the biggest injury notes from this game as of right now?
5. Will the Baltimore Ravens have Kevin Zeitler against the Kansas City Chiefs
Kevin Zeitler will be an interesting name to follow throughout the week. He suffered a knee injury against the San Francisco 49ers and has not been right since Christmas. Zeitler sat out weeks 17 and 18, then got the bye week to ensure three weeks off.
He came out of the gates rusty and allowed an early sack. Then, he left late with the same knee injury. Ben Cleveland filled in for six snaps, and Daniel Faalele played one snap as well to end the game.
Zeitler missed practice on Wednesday, which is not a great sign. He is a veteran, and even if he returned by Friday, there would be a real chance that he would play in this game. Still, he struggled when he did play, and it is obvious that if he does suit up, he will not be completely healthy.
Then, on the other side, Cleveland played two solid games to finish the year. Six snaps in the playoffs is not much, but at least he will not make his debut if he has to start next week. Does Zeitler start, or does this become the moment of a lifetime for Ben Cleveland?
4. Is Mark Andrews trending to return for the Baltimore Ravens?
Mark Andrews has been out since week 10 with an ankle injury. John Harbaugh has been quite optimistic that he will be healthy at some point this year, but we were not sure when. The Ravens opened his practice window last week, but he was not activated.
The Ravens do not have to activate him until Saturday, so it may be in their best interest to make it appear he will suit up only to sit him again. However, the clear indication right now is that he will play this week.
First, he was limited last week, getting some work in. Now, he is practicing in full. Getting the week to adjust last week should mean that even if the Ravens are playing it safe, they feel he is ready to come back this week.
The question is, how does this impact the Baltimore Ravens? Isaiah Likely has been money for them over the last couple of months, but when Andrews is healthy, he is the top option for Lamar Jackson and would be a great mismatch this week.
Do the Ravens lean into more two tight ends, something they have not done much under Todd Monken? How much does Andrews even play? We will find out soon.
3. Is Marlon Humphrey finally healthy for the Baltimore Ravens
Marlon Humphrey is another player on the Baltimore Ravens who has been out since Christmas. He got injured against the 49ers and missed weeks 17, 18, and the bye week. Unlike Kevin Zeitler, he did not come back for the first playoff game. So, Humphrey has been sitting for four weeks due to his calf injury.
Now, it looks like he is back. Humphrey practiced in full on Wednesday. Barring a setback in practice this week, he is going to play. The question is, what do the Ravens do with Humphrey?
Ronald Darby has been excellent in his absence, and it hurts to sit him at this point. Humphrey could play the slot, which would mean matching up with Travis Kelce more often. It would leave Kyle Hamilton in the safety role and take Geno Stone off of the field. Ronald Darby and Brandon Stephens could play outside.
Or Humphrey could step back into the outside cornerback spot. His return will be worth following this week.
2. Will the Kansas City Chiefs have Willie Gay against the Baltimore Ravens?
Willie Gay left the Buffalo Bills game with a neck injury. He missed Wednesday's practice as well. While there are reports that the injury is not significant and he may return sooner than later, there is still no specific designation on Gay right now.
If the Kansas City Chiefs did not have him, it would hurt. Their run defense is already the weaker spot on their roster as it stands. Adding in an injured run defending linebacker against the best rushing team they will face all year smells like a bad time.
The Chiefs were expecting full workloads from Nick Bolton, Drue Tranquil, and Gay. Without Gay, they may look for Leon Chenal to fill into the role. This will be key to watch as we see just how much the Ravens can run the ball on this Chiefs defense.
1. Joe Thuney is the biggest injury note to watch when the Baltimore Ravens face the Kansas City Chiefs
Some big names have already been discussed, but potentially, the most significant name for the outcome of this game is Joe Thuney. Thuney has a pectoral injury, and while the Chiefs say that he will avoid season-ending surgery, he will be playing hurt if he does play this Sunday. Thuney already missed practice on Wednesday.
Without Thuney, the team would drop to Nick Allegretti. This is a major note, and it is less about Allegretti, who has been fine when called upon, but more about Thuney, who is one of the best in the NFL. The Chiefs' tackles are their weaker area of the roster, and the interior is the clear strength with Thuney, Creed Humphrey, and Trey Smith. Losing one of those guys along the interior is a crushing blow to the area that this team relies on the most. Can Micael Pierce, Justin Madubuike, and Travis Jones take advantage on Sunday?