With Isiah Pacheco back, the Chiefs have stuck with Kareem Hunt as a key player on offense. Hunt’s Chiefs reunion continued a season of inactivity for Clyde Edwards-Helaire. The former first-round pick is now off the team’s roster entirely.
The Chiefs cut Edwards-Helaire on Monday, the fifth-year running back announced. This will clear a roster spot in Kansas City, as Marquise Brown ramps up toward a possible Week 16 debut with the team.
Edwards-Helaire had begun his career as a starter for the team, but he was unable to deliver on expectations that came with a No. 32 overall draft slot. Pacheco, a former seventh-round pick, had usurped him; the Chiefs had Pacheco and Jerick McKinnon playing ahead of Edwards-Helaire last season. Despite the team not re-signing McKinnon, it did not find room for CEH on its gameday rosters. Since being activated off the reserve/non-football illness list, Edwards-Helaire has been a healthy scratch.
It is possible Edwards-Helaire could be brought back on a practice squad deal, but the LSU alum’s message certainly does not point to that happening. If this is it for the 5-foot-7 back in Kansas City, he will close his Missouri run with 32 starts, 1,845 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns.
The Chiefs used one of their activations to return Edwards-Helaire to the 53-man roster, doing so after having placed him on the NFI list to start the season. Once Pacheco suffered a broken leg in Week 2, however, Hunt quickly reentered the fray as the team’s primary back. Hunt remains on Kansas City’s roster, with UDFA Carson Steele still around as a third-stringer and Samaje Perine as a pass-down specialist. Teams do not make a habit of carrying five RBs, so the roster math makes sense here — especially with the Chiefs needing a spot for Brown.
Hosting J.K. Dobbins on a free agent visit April 2, the Chiefs instead chose to re-sign Edwards-Helaire to a one-year, $1.7MM deal. This release will leave the team on the hook for just less than $200K in dead money. Having neared a recovery from the shoulder injury that has sidelined him throughout the season, Brown is on track to be activated soon.
Debuting with a 138-yard, two-touchdown performance, Edwards-Helaire could not consistently display the pass-game chops that led to his first-round arrival. He also struggled with injuries, having missed time in each of his four seasons before this year’s NFI stint. Counting hte playoffs, Edwards-Helaire missed 24 games from 2020-23. Still, he profiles as an option for a running back-needy team on waivers. Clubs have until 3pm CT on Tuesday to submit a claim.
I remember when the Chiefs drafted him and every expert was applauding the Chiefs and explaining why it was so smart that they drafted him over Tee Higgins and DeAndre Swift
To be fair, Brett veach and co. do a great job of drafting and replacing talent especially on the defensive side of the ball and on the offensive line.
PFF (Mike Renner as their lead draft guy at the time) had Edwards-Helaire ranked fourth just among running backs, 81st on their big board, and criticized the pick, so not every expert, no.
Lions are currently looking. Hmmm
Lions are a great spot for him.
With David Montgomery now out, he might be the best option available.
The guy wasn’t able to get it together to run out there for the defending SB champs. I don’t see why anyone else would take a chance on him in week 16. KC practice squad or home would be the most logical
He will go to whoever claims him.
He would also take a roster spot over a ps squad role if one was offered.
Im not here to argue he is all-pro, but for a team like Detroit who just lost Montgomery – its not a bad idea.
Its very low risk and low cost.
Possibly spots? Jaguars Panthers Saints
Long shots? Bears Browns(Chubb is gone again), & Cowboys
Go to the Lions, no Montgomery so he would fit in well and will perform like he did in LSU
He will perform like he did in LSU? Based on what? He hasn’t performed in five years.
Browns