The Kansas City Chiefs started their regular season with a loss and had a lackluster performance prior to the postseason. However, their trajectory changed in the postseason, as they bounced back to their formidable form on the field.
The Chiefs have now achieved another Super Bowl after beating the San Francisco 49ers in Las Vegas a few days ago. After winning back-to-back Lombardi trophies, the team’s target is now to be the three-peat Super Bowl Champions. Nick Allegretti has been a notable troop in the Chiefs’ winning journey. The offensive lineman recently hit the headlines by being candid about his injury status during the Super Bowl LVIII.
Nick Allegretti reveals being injured during Super Bowl
Nick Allegretti recently disclosed that he sustained a torn UCL (ulnar collateral ligament) during the Chiefs’ Super Bowl triumph over the San Francisco 49ers. He remarkably managed to play through the pain, despite the injury.
The veteran recounted the moment of injury while talking on The Jim Rome Show. He described a distinct sensation of hearing a pop and feeling something awry in his elbow.
“I haven’t suffered an injury like that until then..I immediately knew. It was something that you heard a pop, you felt it, and knowing minimal about anatomy knew that something was wrong in my elbow. Because my elbow is not supposed to bend that way. Fortunately, we had the two-minute warning, and I had a couple seconds to gather myself, figure out that my arm still bent and I was able to go. It was a tough situation, but fortunate enough I was able to still play”, he said via NFL.com.
The O-line star rated his pain at six or seven out of ten, emphasizing that it was manageable. At halftime, the medical team gave him the necessary assistance to allow him to play at a reduced pain level of around five.
“At halftime we were able to get the cream on it, massage it a little bit and then throw a brace on it. I was probably playing at about a five. It was one of those things that I could confidently use the arm knowing that most likely the UCL was already gone, so I wasn’t going to tear it any worse. So if I could deal with the pain, I could play. So it was one of those things.”
The injury occurred when 49ers edge rusher Nick Bosa completed a tackle through Allegretti’s arm. He talked about receiving advice from a teammate with a biology background, assuring him that he didn’t need a UCL to play offensive line.
The timing of the injury was particularly challenging for the Chiefs, as the veteran had stepped in to start for the injured Joe Thuney. With Thuney ruled out of the championship game due to a pectoral injury, Nich Allegretti’s absence would have forced the team to rely on a third-string lineman in the Super Bowl.
Nick Allegretti’s performance for Chiefs throughout the season
Nick Allegretti had few chances to play in regular-season games as a member of the Chiefs this year. He demonstrated his preparedness when needed, especially during crucial playoff occasions.
The veteran’s role was primarily that of a backup throughout the regular season, with only one start under his belt. However, when the stakes were at their highest, he stepped up admirably. The footballer took 100 percent of the Chiefs’ offensive snaps in both the AFC Championship game and Super Bowl LVIII. He logged 173 snaps across three playoff games, including an impressive 81 snaps in the conference title clash.
Nick Allegretti also played a crucial role in the 2022 season. He appeared in 17 regular-season games and started in three. His versatility and adaptability were key factors in the Chiefs’ offensive strategy. His presence allowed the Chiefs to make seamless transitions when starters were sidelined or rotations were required. The Chiefs star is now a three-time Super Bowl champion, and an unrestricted free agent.
