KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Chiefs will be without defensive end Charles Omenihu for the first six games of the regular season after the NFL handed down Friday its punishment stemming from the player’s arrest for suspicion of domestic violence back in January.
Omenihu’s suspension takes effect Sept. 4. He will be eligible to return on Oct. 13, the day after the Chiefs host the Denver Broncos on Thursday night. The Chiefs then have a 10-day break until they host the Los Angeles Chargers on Oct. 22, which is the earliest Omenihu can return to action. Omenihu is eligible to participate in preseason games and training camp practices until the first week of the regular season.
A Chiefs spokesperson declined to comment on the suspension.
Omenihu signed a two-year, $16 million free-agent contract with the Chiefs in March after leaving the San Francisco 49ers. His contract included a $7.5 million signing bonus and a $1.08 million base salary in 2023. The suspension will cost Omenihu roughly $380,000 in salary this season.
Omenihu was arrested by San Jose, California, police on Jan. 24 after the department received a report of a domestic violence incident. He was booked at the Santa Clara County jail and released on bond. He was also served with a restraining order.
Police responded to a report from a woman who said Omenihu — her boyfriend — pushed her to the ground during an argument.
“Officers did not observe any visible physical injuries to the survivor, she did however have a complaint of pain to her arm,” police said in a statement. “The survivor declined any medical attention at the time officers were conducting the investigation.”
Officers also reported Omenihu was cooperative.
The incident occurred five days before the 49ers faced the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship game. The 49ers lost 31-7, with Omenu picking up two total tackles and a quarterback hit in 38 snaps in a backup role.
Omenihu was a fifth-round draft selection for Houston in 2019 and played in 35 games for the Texans before a trade to the 49ers in November 2021. In 61 career games, Omenihu has tallied 67 combined tackles with 11.5 sacks and 41 quarterback hits.
Omenihu has been one of the Chiefs’ projected starters at defensive end opposite George Karlaftis. He did not practice Friday due to what the club termed a calf spasm.
Rotation Without Omenihu
The Chiefs showed in training camp practices in recent days how they may adjust without Omenihu available for six games.
Karlaftis remains a consistent starter and leader of the rotation at defensive end. Mike Danna, who has been nursing a calf strain, will also be a key rotational piece — and likely starter when healthy — in Omenihu’s absence.
But two looks the Chiefs showed in practices Thursday and Friday showcase how the Chiefs may lineup without Omenihu for an extended absence. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has emphasized how he plans to use Omenihu in multiple roles both as an edge defender and an interior pass rusher. Malik Herring filled that role with the first-team defense Thursday when the focus was on third-down and passing situations.
In Friday’s practice, however, which focused on the red zone, first-round draft pick Felix Anudike-Uzomah saw more first-team reps as an edge defender.
A combination of Danna, Anudike-Uzomah and Herring may be the most likely answer to how the Chiefs’ defense replaces Omenihu during the first six weeks of the season.
