6 Chiefs Players We Wish Could Be in Super Bowl LIX

There are a few players we wish could be part of the action, but we’re glad they can still enjoy the event from the sidelines.

The Kansas City Chiefs are as healthy as possible at this late stage of the season—six months into the physical grind of football—but there are still some players missing who we’d love to see on the field as Super Bowl LIX approaches.

The Chiefs are getting ready to face the Philadelphia Eagles for a shot at an unprecedented third consecutive championship in a rematch of the NFL heavyweights from two years ago. Both teams have stacked rosters, but the Chiefs are missing some key players who would make a significant impact. However, the Eagles can say the same.

In the NFL, player health is just as important to a team’s success as talent, luck, and preparation. Here are a few players we’d love to see in the game, but we’re at least happy they’re on the sidelines to enjoy the celebrations.

Rashee Rice, WR

Any list of players we miss starts with the most obvious one: wide receiver Rashee Rice.

While the Chiefs have benefited from the return of Hollywood Brown, the development of Xavier Worthy, and the addition of DeAndre Hopkins, the heart of the wide receiver group is undoubtedly Rice, with his impressive ability to take over games as a top target and rack up yards after the catch.

Rice’s role in the power slot alongside Travis Kelce allowed him to thrive, earning the unwavering trust of Patrick Mahomes. When he was sidelined with a season-ending injury, the Chiefs’ offense struggled for several weeks as the defense carried the team to the end of the season.

Although the Chiefs’ offense is firing on all cylinders now, Rice is sorely missed. If the Chiefs fall short against the Eagles, Rice’s absence will likely be a key talking point.

Jack Cochrane, LB

Not all injuries carry the weight of Rashee Rice’s, but they’re still tough to swallow. When the Chiefs lost Jack Cochrane for the season just before Christmas, special teams took a hit, losing one of Dave Toub’s key players.

Cochrane was sidelined with an ankle injury against the Houston Texans, and just like that, the Chiefs lost valuable linebacker depth and a reliable special teams contributor. Over the past two seasons, Cochrane has played nearly 80 percent of all special teams snaps. Last year, he also contributed defensively with 180 defensive snaps.

Joining the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent from South Dakota in 2022, Cochrane will return in 2025 for his final season under contract. While the team has moved on to Swayze Bozeman and others, Cochrane’s experience would have been a nice addition for Sunday’s game.

Jared Wiley, TE

Ah, what could have been?

Admittedly, we’re being a bit dramatic here. Expectations weren’t high for Jared Wiley entering the season. He was competing with Irv Smith for the third-string tight end position and was clearly behind Noah Gray and Travis Kelce on the depth chart. So, not much was anticipated.

But it’s always fun to watch rookies grow—just look at Xavier Worthy’s development from Week 1 to the AFC Championship. Watching Wiley learn from the best tight end ever would have been an exciting journey. Instead, Wiley was lost to a torn ACL in practice midway through the season, so the Chiefs will have to wait until 2025 to see what they have in the former fourth-round pick.

Had Wiley been healthy, his hands—showcased at TCU—could have made for some interesting 13-personnel packages against the Eagles.

Mecole Hardman, WR

This one’s a no-brainer.

Mecole Hardman has been a vital postseason performer for the Chiefs in past Super Bowls, and while we’re excited to see Nikko Remigio making waves during this postseason, Hardman’s speed and experience would have been valuable assets for K.C.’s special teams on such a big stage.

However, instead of seeing Hardman on returns, the Chiefs decided to shut down his season, even after opening the 21-day window for his return from injured reserve. Whether he wasn’t fully ready or the team felt he wouldn’t be as effective, this seems to be the end of the line for Hardman in Kansas City.

B.J. Thompson, DE

One of the most frightening moments of the season for the Chiefs occurred when B.J. Thompson suffered a seizure and went into cardiac arrest at Arrowhead during the preseason. Fortunately, Thompson was cleared and appears to be in good health now, but we’ll never forget that terrifying incident.