The Chiefs' Super Bowl Chances Improve with OBJ on the Roster

It's no longer news that the Kansas City Chiefs will face off against the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII. However, leading up to the AFC championship game, the Chiefs had to deal with the uncertainty of their top three wide receivers.

They may need to consider signing Odell Beckham Jr., who is currently a free agent and has not played a snap this season due to an injury sustained in last season's Super Bowl game against the Bengals.

Beckham's presence, even if only for the Super Bowl, could provide a significant boost to the Chiefs' wide receiver unit. Prior to his injury, he was on his way to becoming the Super Bowl MVP, and his ball-catching ability and speed are widely regarded as among the best in the league.

When it comes to assembling a championship-caliber roster, the Chiefs are no strangers to making tough decisions.

However, recent reports that the team won't sign Beckham Jr. to participate in the Super Bowl may prove to be a missed opportunity. He is a talented wide receiver with a proven track record of making big plays on the biggest stages.

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Injuries Impacting the Chiefs' Wide Receiver Roster

One of the WRs doubtful for the big game is Mecole Hardman. He has been dealing with a recurring abdomen injury that has kept him out for most of the regular season. On February 2nd, head coach Andy Reid provided an update on Hardman's status and stated that he remains questionable for the Super Bowl.

Buffalo Bills v Kansas City

JuJu Smith-Schuster is another Chiefs wide receiver who was declared "Did Not Participate" on Thursday. He has been battling a knee injury throughout the season and was limited in the conference championship game against the Bengals, registering just one reception for 7 yards.

The third receiver on the roster who is currently on the injury list is Kadarius Toney, who was traded from the New York Giants halfway through the season. He suffered an injury during the Bengals game.

Toney also had one reception for 9 yards and did not practice with the team on Thursday due to ankle and hamstring injuries. The injury concerns for the Chiefs, particularly at the wide receiver position, are a cause for concern heading into the Super Bowl against the Eagles, who are ranked number one in the pass rush.

The Way Forward

During the second half of the Bengals game, quarterback Patrick Mahomes had to make do with limited target options, relying heavily on tight end Travis Kelce and receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who had the best game of his season with 6 receptions for 116 yards and 1 touchdown.

With current injury concerns on their roster, bringing in someone of Beckham's caliber to fill the void is necessary. There may be concerns that Beckham is not Super Bowl-ready after missing all of the 2022 regular season and playoff games.

He is still a threat to any defense and could be used as a decoy or distraction to make room for other go-to options like Kelce.

This could be all Reid's team needs to win the Super Bowl against an Eagles team that is superior in every position except quarterback, where Hurts remains a leading MVP candidate.

It remains to be seen whether the Chiefs will make a move or if their injured players can make a quick recovery in less than 10 days.