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Auburn at the Super Bowl: Will C.J. Uzomah make it back in time?

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For the second year in a row, Auburn’s hopes of having a Super Bowl presence will depend on a personnel decision.

The Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles will square off in Super Bowl LIX at 5:30 p.m. CST Sunday at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. FOX will televise the game.

The Auburn alumni on the Super Bowl teams’ rosters are offensive lineman Jack Driscoll and tight end C.J. Uzomah, who are on injured reserve with Philadelphia.

An abdominal injury landed Uzomah on IR on Jan. 1. But he returned to practice on Thursday, which makes him eligible to be restored to the active roster. If the Eagles return Uzomah to their 53-man roster before Sunday, the tight end will be eligible to play in Super Bowl LIX.

A quadriceps injury sent Driscoll to injured reserve on Jan. 10, and he will not be back this season.

When the Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers were preparing to square off in Super Bowl LVIII last year, former Auburn alumnus Prince Tega Wanogho was on injured reserve with Kansas City. But like Uzomah, the offensive tackle had returned to practice in the week before Super Bowl week.

That gave the Chiefs the option to restore Wanogho to their active roster before Super Bowl LVIII. But Kansas City did not, ending a streak of eight Super Bowls with at least one Auburn alumnus on the field, the longest in the program’s history.

The Super Bowl that featured the most former Auburn players was the first one. When the Green Bay Packers defeated the Chiefs 35-10 in the inaugural Super Bowl on Jan. 15, 1967, Kansas City had four former Tigers – center Wayne Frazier, right offensive tackle Dave Hill, defensive end Chuck Hurston and safety Bobby Hunt.

Four Auburn players have appeared in three Super Bowls apiece – Dallas Cowboys linebacker Dave Edwards, New England Patriots special-teamer Brandon King, Miami Dolphins linebacker Mike Kolen and San Francisco 49ers offensive tackle Steve Wallace.

Forty Auburn alumni have played in the Super Bowl, and 19 of the former Tigers played in Super Bowl victories.

Here’s a rundown of the Auburn alumni who have played in the Super Bowl:

Tommie Agee, a running back, played in the Dallas Cowboys’ 52-17 victory over the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXVII on Jan. 31, 1993. The next season, the Cowboys defeated the Bills again in Super Bowl XXVIII, but Agee did not play in that game.

James Brooks, a running back, carried six times for 24 yards, caught a 20-yard pass and returned a kickoff for 15 yards in the Cincinnati Bengals’ 20-16 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XXIII on Jan. 22, 1989.

Josh Bynes, a linebacker, made a special-teams tackle in the Baltimore Ravens’ 34-31 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII on Feb. 3, 2013.

Blake Countess, a safety, was on the field for one defensive snap and a team-leading 25 special-teams plays in the Los Angeles Rams’ 13-3 loss to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LIII on Feb. 3, 2019. Countess was on the Rams’ practice squad for Super Bowl LVI on Feb. 13, 2022, and Los Angeles elevated him to active status the day before the game. But he ended up as a game-day inactive and didn’t play in the Rams’ 23-20 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.

Karlos Dansby, a linebacker, led the team with eight tackles and intercepted a pass in the Arizona Cardinals’ 27-23 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII on Feb. 1, 2009.

Carlton Davis, a cornerback, formed Tampa Bay’s starting cornerback tandem with former Auburn teammate Jamel Dean in the Buccaneers’ 31-9 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV on Feb. 7, 2021. Davis made four tackles on defense and one on special teams.

Stephen Davis, a running back, carried the ball 13 times for 49 yards in the Carolina Panthers’ 32-29 loss to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXVIII on Feb. 1, 2004.

Jamel Dean, a cornerback, made four tackles and broke up a pass in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 31-9 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV on Feb. 7, 2021.

Al Del Greco, a place-kicker, missed a 47-yard field-goal attempt and had a 47-yarder blocked before he made a 43-yarder with 2:12 to play to tie the game in the Tennessee Titans’ 23-16 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl XXXIV on Jan. 30, 2000.

Jack Driscoll, an offensive lineman, played five special-teams snaps in the Philadelphia Eagles’ 38-35 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII on Feb. 12, 2023. Driscoll was on standby for Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson, but the Pro Bowler pushed through a groin injury to play in the Super Bowl.

Dave Edwards, a linebacker, made five tackles and broke up a pass in the Dallas Cowboys’ 16-13 loss to the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl V on Jan. 17, 1971; four tackles in the Cowboys’ 24-3 victory over the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl VI on Jan. 16, 1972; and five tackles in the Cowboys’ 21-17 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl X on Jan. 18, 1976.

Heath Evans, a fullback, had a 2-yard carry in the New England Patriots’ 17-14 loss to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII on Feb. 3, 2008.

Dee Ford, a defensive end, made two tackles, including one behind the line of scrimmage, and registered a quarterback hit in the San Francisco 49ers’ 31-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV on Feb. 2, 2020.

Wayne Frazier, a center, started in the Kansas City Chiefs’ 35-10 loss to the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl I on Jan. 15, 1967.

Mike Fuller, a safety, returned four punts for 35 yards in the Cincinnati Bengals’ 26-21 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XVI on Jan. 24, 1982.

Chris Gray, a guard, started in the Seattle Seahawks’ 21-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XL on Feb. 5, 2006.

Kevin Greene, an outside linebacker, made two tackles in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 27-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl XXX on Jan. 28, 1996.

Josh Harris handled the long-snapping duties in the Atlanta Falcons’ 34-28 overtime loss to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LI on Feb. 5, 2017.

Dave Hill, an offensive tackle, started in the Kansas City Chiefs’ 35-10 loss to the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl I on Jan. 15, 1967, and the Chiefs’ 23-7 victory over the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV on Jan. 11, 1970.

Roderick Hood, a cornerback, made three tackles in the Philadelphia Eagles’ 24-21 loss to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXIX on Feb. 6, 2005, and made six tackles in the Arizona Cardinals’ 27-23 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII on Feb. 1, 2009.

John Hudson, a center, played in the Baltimore Ravens’ 34-7 victory over the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXXV on Jan. 28, 2001.

Bobby Hunt, a safety, started and made two tackles in the Kansas City Chiefs’ 35-10 loss to the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl I on Jan. 15, 1967.

Chuck Hurston, a defensive end, made three tackles in the Kansas City Chiefs’ 35-10 loss to the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl I on Jan. 15, 1967, and played in the Chiefs’ 23-7 victory over the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV on Jan. 11, 1970.

Brandon Jacobs, a running back, carried the ball 14 times for 42 yards in the New York Giants’ 17-14 victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII on Feb. 3, 2008, and ran for 37 yards on nine carries in the New York Giants’ 21-17 victory over the Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI on Feb. 5, 2012.

Jonathan Jones, a cornerback, was on the field for 22 special-teams plays and made a tackle in the New England Patriots’ 34-28 overtime victory against the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI on Feb. 5, 2017, and made a surprise start at strong safety in the Patriots’ 13-3 victory over the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII on Feb. 3, 2019, when he led New England with eight tackles, including a sack.

Brandon King, a defensive back, was on the field for 23 special-teams plays in the New England Patriots’ 34-28 overtime victory against the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI on Feb. 5, 2017; 17 special-teams plays (with a tackle) in the Patriots’ 41-33 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LII on Feb. 4, 2018; and 21 special-teams plays in the Patriots’ 13-3 victory against the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII on Feb. 3, 2019.

Mike Kolen, a linebacker, made 13 tackles in the Miami Dolphins’ 24-3 loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl VI on Jan. 16, 1972; seven tackles in the Dolphins’ 14-7 victory over the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl VII on Jan. 14, 1973; and five tackles in the Dolphins’ 24-7 victory over the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl VIII on Jan. 13, 1974.

Patrick Lee, a defensive back, returned two kickoffs for 44 yards and made a tackle in the Green Bay Packers’ 31-25 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLV on Feb. 6, 2011.

Ron Middleton, a tight end, started in the Washington Redskins’ 37-24 victory over the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXVI on Jan. 26, 1992.

Cam Newton, a quarterback, started in the Carolina Panthers’ 25-10 loss to the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50 on Feb. 7, 2016. Newton completed 18-of-41 passes for 265 yards with no touchdowns and one interception. He ran six times for 45 yards and was sacked six times.

Jerraud Powers, a cornerback, made two tackles in the Indianapolis Colts’ 31-17 loss to the New Orleans Saints in Super Bowl XLIV on Feb. 7, 2010.

Carlos Rogers, a cornerback, made three tackles in the San Francisco 49ers’ 34-31 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XLVII on Feb. 3, 2013.

Kendall Simmons, a guard, started in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 21-10 victory over the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL on Feb. 5, 2006.

Arryn Siposs, a punter, had punts of 57 and 38 yards in the Philadelphia Eagles’ 38-35 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII on Feb. 12, 2023. Siposs had missed the previous six games because of an ankle injury, but he made it back to the field for the NFL championship game.

Reggie Torbor, a linebacker, made two tackles in the New York Giants’ 17-14 victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII on Feb. 3, 2008.

Ben Thomas, a defensive end, recorded a sack in the New England Patriots’ 46-10 loss to the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XX on Jan. 26, 1986.

C.J. Uzomah, a tight end, caught two passes for 11 yards in the Cincinnati Bengals’ 23-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LVI on Feb. 13, 2022. Uzomah started the game even though he had sustained a sprained medial collateral ligament in Cincinnati’s 27-24 overtime victory against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game two weeks before the Super Bowl. He didn’t return to practice until three days before the NFL title game.

Steve Wallace, an offensive tackle, started in the San Francisco 49ers’ 20-16 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl XXIII on Jan. 22, 1989; played in the 49ers’ 55-10 victory over the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXIV on Jan. 28, 1990; and started in the 49ers’ 49-26 victory over the San Diego Chargers in Super Bowl XXIX on Jan. 29, 1995. Wallace suffered a broken ankle in his final Super Bowl appearance.

Prince Tega Wanogho, an offensive tackle, played seven special-teams snaps in the Kansas City Chiefs’ 38-35 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII on Feb. 12, 2023.

Chester Willis, a running back, gained 7 yards on his only carry in the Los Angeles Raiders’ 38-9 victory over the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl XVIII on Jan. 22, 1984.

Like Agee in the Super Bowl to cap the 1993 season, Jaret Holmes and Cameron Artis-Payne were on the active roster of a team at the Super Bowl, but they didn’t get into the game. Holmes, a place-kicker, was with the 2000 Giants, and Artis-Payne, a running back, was with the 2015 Panthers. Both their teams lost.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.