The Kansas City Chiefs have at least solidified one thing at the running back position before their final game of the season on Thursday against the Chicago Bears:
RB1 is set.
Isiah Pacheco is the team’s undisputed top back and has also worked on improving his hands in the offseason to take on a more prominent role in the passing game.
But what’s behind it? The Chiefs are still a little unsettled, just 15 days before the season opener.
Will they keep three or four running backs from their original roster? And which guys will stay on the roster?
Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy didn’t answer those questions directly when speaking to reporters Tuesday, but his answers provided insight into the direction KC’s coaches might be leaning.
Let’s start with this: Veteran Clyde Edwards-Helaire appears to have his spot on the roster secured despite a difficult training camp. Earlier this month, Edwards-Helaire shared that he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, forcing him to miss nearly half of the Chiefs’ practices.
However, Nagy said Tuesday that the Chiefs “know who Clyde is and what he has done.”
“He’s a guy who’s taken a lot of good shots. He’s taken a lot of valuable snaps here in Kansas City,” Nagy said. “… We know his strengths and we know how to utilize him.”
Edwards-Helaire, who is in his fifth season, is also one of the most popular players on the Chiefs’ roster. That was evident after his strong game against New England last year, when tight end Travis Kelce said, “Man, I love that guy,” and coach Andy Reid described the back as an “energizer.”
Nagy characterized Edwards-Helaire as both “knowledgeable” and a “leader.”
“I think he exudes a certain calmness. He has what he has off the field — we all have our issues off the field, personally, what you go through. And I think hopefully he feels like his coaches and his teammates have his back in this. We’re in this together,” Nagy said. “But as a football player, he’s been really good with us in the building.”
Another likely 53-man roster prospect: freshman Carson Steele. The UCLA product was a standout in the Chiefs’ first preseason game and then played extended time with the first line of attack in Game 2 on Saturday.
The Chiefs tested him in this second outing, asking him to be a pass protector on third downs and a lead blocker on some running plays. Steele is also expected to help on special teams.
“More opportunities — more reps — will be valuable for him, and then we can see where he is,” Nagy said. “And again, a great kid. I think back to when I first met him at OTAs, and he’s in meetings early every day, trying to learn this offense. Now he can go out there and try to play and impose it on us, see what he can do.”
If the Chiefs opt to add a fourth running back, the most likely option is two-year pro Deneric Prince. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound running back spent most of last season on KC’s practice squad.
Nagy said he was pleased when Prince broke free for a 35-yard run down the sideline during Saturday’s preseason game against the Lions.
“Man, when he gets his knees up, he’s down the sideline,” Nagy said. “He’s tough.”
The roster numbers may not work out in Prince’s favor. KC will likely keep four tight ends as Reid prefers to use multiple players there. The receiver position could also take seven spots as Hollywood Brown may miss the first few games due to a shoulder injury.
It might make sense for the Chiefs to use fewer running backs at that point, especially if they believe Prince would be a candidate to return to their practice squad.
Nagy said Tuesday that Prince was someone who tried his best, even if “a few mistakes happened here and there – that’s the case with most guys.”
“I remember when he first came here, he was such a quiet kid and he doesn’t say much, but he plays hard at every practice,” Nagy said. “He comes every day.”
Someone who is unlikely to leave training camp with the team – at least at this point – is Louis Rees-Zammit.
The 6’2″, 200lb former rugby star has shown off his athleticism in some early training sessions, but his understanding of the sport has fallen short of expectations. He has spent most of his time recently with the third and fourth team attack.
If released, Rees-Zammit would be subject to a waiver and any of the other 31 NFL teams could make a claim.
“He’s evolving every day, and for the better,” Nagy said of Rees-Zammit. “I love his attitude. It’s not easy to do what he does, to move from one sport to another. But he has a great attitude. That’s more than half the battle.”
Rees-Zammit is likely to be someone who will get a lot of playing time in the final pre-season game on Thursday, especially since the Chiefs are giving their regular players a rest.
“He’s going to get opportunities,” Nagy said. “And I think, above all, you probably have to be a little patient with him.”
