During the week, Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Charles Omenihu felt “super calm” about making his season debut against the Chargers. Then gameday came, and he woke up at 6:15 a.m.
“I was charged up,” Omenihu said. “And I told myself that I got to turn it down a little bit. And then coming out and seeing the fans, that got me rolling again.”
That’s for sure. Omenihu played a key role in the Chiefs’ 31-17 victory against the Chargers on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium. Omenihu had a sack, two quarterback hits and batted a ball into the air that resulted in an interception.
Omenihu played all over the defensive line for the Chiefs (6-1) as he lined up on the edge on both sides of the line and he played inside as well. In the second quarter, Omenihu sacked Justin Herbert for a six-yards loss.
“They trusted me and brought me in to add more to the fire that’s already here,” Omenihu said. “So I got to go out there and be productive. That’s the name of the game. It was a surreal feeling. Getting that sack was probably the happiest moment of my career. Doing it for a new team, a home game, a big game.”
Omenihu also was a big part of the defense’s success in the second half as the Chiefs didn’t allow the Chargers to score. In the third quarter with the Chargers facing a third-and-goal from the Chiefs’ 8-yard-line, Omenihu got his hands up and batted a Herbet pass into the air that was intercepted by L’Jarius Sneed.
The Chiefs defense had five sacks against Herbert and the Chargers (2-4), and coach Andy Reid liked what he saw from Omenihu.
“On the six weeks off, he kept himself in shape and you had a chance to see that today,” Reid said. “It’s great to get him in the mix. He’s a nice addiction to the mix.”
Though Omenihu played in the preseason, he had to sit out the team’s first six games of the season for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy when he was a member of the 49ers.
The Chiefs signed Omenihu in free agency two a two-year, $16 million contract, but he said having to sit on the sidelines was difficult. But now that his suspension is over, he’s just focused on the future.
“Not playing football for the last six weeks has probably been the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do,” Omenihu said. “And being able to come out and help the team win I truly have no words.
“Missing those six games and seeing them boys go out there, and you want to be a part of it, especially coming in and trying to be a piece to a puzzle that’s already been put together quite nicely, it was eating at me.”
