The Kansas City Chiefs will be without starting defensive end Mike Danna for their crucial Week 4 matchup against division rivals, the Los Angeles Chargers.
More news: 5 NFL Teams On Upset Alert Ahead of Week 4
Danna has been ruled out due to a calf injury.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said Danna would sit out during this contest.
Mike Danna #51 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates after a play during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on September 15, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Mike Danna has been ruled out for the team’s Week 4 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers.
(Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images
“After our walk-through, that calf was bothering him,” Reid said. “So we’ll probably end up holding him out of the game until we get that thing calmed down a little bit.”
The 26-year-old was added to the injury report as a non-participant on Thursday. On Friday, he was limited, and coach Reid and staff decided to rule him out.
Danna has been on the field for 65 percent of the Kansas City Chiefs defensive snaps so far this season. Through three games, the defensive end has recorded 12 total tackles, one tackle for loss, two quarterback hits, and 0.5 sacks.
The Cheifs, who had many of their vital players on the injury report, are expected to play like linebacker Nick Bolton (back), receiver Rashee Rice (ankle), defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi (triceps), cornerback Jaylen Watson (shoulder), and safety Chamarri Conner (heel).
In place of Danna, the Chiefs will lean on their 2023 first-round NFL Draft pick Felix Anudike-Uzomah, who picked up his first career full sack last week against the Falcons.
Anudike-Uzomah was selected by the Chiefs with the No. 31 overall pick. The 22-year-old attended Kansas State and panned out a solid college career for himself. In three seasons, Anudike-Uzomah was named First-team All-American, Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, two-time Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year, and two-time first-team All-Big 12.
Danna will be missed this week as he has and will continue to play a pivotal role in the Chiefs’ stifling defense. In April, Danna and the Chiefs agreed to a three-year contract extension worth $24 million, with $13 million of that guaranteed.
Danna is in his fifth NFL season after he attended Central Michigan (2015-18) and Michigan (2019). The Chiefs selected Danna in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL draft with the No. 177 overall pick.
In his professional career, Danna has tallied 140 total tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 41 quarterback hits, 17.5 sacks, and four forced fumbles in 62 games and 27 starts.
Although the Chiefs have some injuries of their own, the Chargers are a much-depleted team. L.A. will be without Rashawn Slater, Junior Colson, and Joey Bosa. As of Saturday, Justin Herbert, Ja’Sir Taylor, Deane Leonard, Joe Alt, and Kristian Fulton are among the players listed as questionable.
More news: Week 4 Status For TE Sam LaPorta Revealed
