Former Alabama prep star suddenly 1 win from Super Bowl
Former Theodore High School star La’Mical Perine did not play a snap during the 2022 NFL regular season. But he could be going to Super Bowl LVII.
On Saturday, the Kansas City Chiefs signed the running back for their practice squad.
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If the Chiefs defeat the Cincinnati Bengals in Sunday’s AFC Championship Game, Perine would be on hand next week as Kansas City opens preparations for Super Bowl LVII on Feb. 12.
A fourth-round draft pick from Florida in 2020, Perine ran for 263 yards and two touchdowns on 72 carries and caught 11 passes for 63 yards in 14 games with the New York Jets during the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
Released by the Jets at the end of the preseason in August, Perine spent a week in September on the Philadelphia Eagles’ practice squad before joining the Miami Dolphins’ practice squad on Oct. 18.
The Dolphins elevated Perine from the practice squad for their playoff game on Jan. 15, but he did not play in Miami’s 34-31 loss to the Buffalo Bills.
Former North Alabama standout Janoris “Jackrabbit” Jenkins also was elevated from a practice squad for the first round of the playoffs, and the cornerback got on the field for 18 defensive snaps and 13 special-teams plays in the San Francisco 49ers’ 41-23 victory over the Seattle Seahawks.
The 49ers elevated Jenkins again in the second round, and he got in on 12 special-teams plays in San Francisco’s 19-12 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.
On Saturday, the 49ers announced the 11-year NFL veteran would be elevated from the practice squad to active status again for the NFC Championship Game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Jenkins also played in two regular-season games for San Francisco as a practice-squad elevation.
The 49ers and Eagles square off at 2 p.m. CST Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. FOX will televise the game.
The Bengals and Chiefs meet at 5:30 p.m. Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. CBS will televise the game.
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.