New York (AFP) – The Kansas City Chiefs, who play Sunday for their first Super Bowl berth since 1970, activated Canadian offensive lineman Laurent Duvernay-Tardif from the NFL injured reserve list on Tuesday.
The 27-year-old right guard from Quebec graduated last May from Montreal’s McGill University medical school, becoming the fourth NFL player who is also a physician.
Duvernay-Tardif started the first five games of the season before suffering a fractured left fibula in October and sitting out until now while recovering.
The Chiefs play host to the New England Patriots in Sunday’s American Conference final with the winner to face either the Los Angeles Rams or New Orleans Saints in Super Bowl 53 on February 3 at Atlanta.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid, whose mother was also a McGill medical school graduate, released safety Ron Parker to make room on the roster for Duvernay-Tardif. Parker had 77 tackles and two interceptions in 15 games for Kansas City this season.
The move came as weather forecasters predicted brutal cold for Sunday’s matchup at Arrowhead Stadium, the National Weather Service calling for an arctic blast to settle in over Kansas City and game temperatures to dip below zero (minus-17.7 Celsius).
“It will be a little chilly and that’s OK,” Reid said. “We’re at that time of the year. You go play. I don’t think it will be an issue.
“We continue to practice outside where it’s cold. It’s all part of it. You just have to adapt.”
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