Chiefs news: Jerick McKinnon will play in Super Bowl 58

The Chiefs got an unexpectedly positive report on Jet McKinnon as they head into Super Bowl Sunday against the 49ers.

Most playoff runs for the Kansas City Chiefs in recent years have featured an unexpected hero out of the backfield as the Chiefs have chased one Lombardi Trophy after another. From Damien Williams to Jerick McKinnon, Andy Reid's offense has found a way to utilize pass-catching running backs to great effect in postseason play.

This year, while the Chiefs are in good hands in the backfield with a bell cow like Isiah Pacheco, they were also in danger of missing that wrinkle in the passing game this season with a lingering groin injury to McKinnon, an injury that's kept him mostly grounded for long stretches this year.

After the injury refused to go away the first time, McKinnon decided to go ahead and have core muscle surgery to repair the issue, but even that recovery is supposed to take up to two months. Given that McKinnon is about four weeks out from the procedure, it made sense to believe he would be out for the team's run to repeat as Super Bowl champions once again.

As it turns out, McKinnon was not having it.

NFL reporter James Palmer notes that McKinnon is actually going to play after all, an unexpectedly positive turn for a player whose timeline should render him unable to suit up at all.

"This is a six-to-eight week recovery but I’m told the rehab went very well. He practiced this week, and I’m told he’s going now to play in Super Bowl 58," said Palmer.

"Had a chance to talk to McKinnon yesterday who told me he was in a difficult spot when he left the 49ers to come to the Kansas City Chiefs. He said there was no way he was going to miss this game. He drove himself to play in this game and it’s the only one he’s been thinking about since he joined the Kansas City Chiefs.

Coming into the game, McKinnon was designated as questionable and reports called him a game-time decision, but it still felt like a safe bet that he would be unable to go. He might be on a snap count, but McKinnon should slot behind Pacheco with Clyde Edwards-Helaire offering an understudy for both.

McKinnon signed with the Chiefs on another one-year deal last spring. He had only 21 carries for 60 yards and 1 touchdown this year for the Chiefs.