KC Chiefs: Darrel Williams looks to be backup running back

The KC Chiefs had their starting running back in the spotlight in the 2020 season opener, but some might not have noticed that Darrel Williams took the second string reps.

The entire country got to see rookie first rounder Clyde Edwards-Helaire in his NFL debut for the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs and the LSU product turned on the jets and impressed everyone.

Behind Edwards-Helaire, however, was Darrel Williams, who looks to be the backup behind the newest Chiefs sensation. Williams, also a former LSU running back, has been with the team since 2018 and has had moments to shine. He appeared in 18 games prior to this season, but has yet to start for the Chiefs.

Darrel Williams might not have been as flashy as Edwards-Helaire, but he did enough for the KC Chiefs.

Williams had 7 carries for 23 yards, which doesn’t seem like much, but those numbers will get better throughout the season. He rushed for 2 first downs and had a long of 7 yards on the night.

Williams also was used more in the receiving game than that of Edwards-Helaire, catching both of his targets for 7 yards. The Chiefs will look to use both of these running backs in the receiving game because that’s what Andy Reid likes to do and he has the backs who can pull it off.

Interestingly enough, Darwin Thompson – who some thought might win the backup running back job – didn’t have a single carry in the Chiefs’ opener. Not only that, but Thompson didn’t play a single snap on offense, instead serving mostly on special teams.

With Clyde Edwards-Helaire dominating in his NFL debut, the need for a third string running back isn’t as high, but it definitely looks like the Chiefs like what they’ve seen from Darrel Williams since he joined them in 2018. He was on his way to a promising 2019 campaign before getting injured and having to miss the rest of the season as a result.

The undrafted talent out of LSU has continued to remain on the roster and impress this coaching staff and it’ll be fun to see how he does behind yet another LSU product at the position.

Clyde Edwards-Helaire will get all of the attention this year, but Chiefs fans have seen Darrel Williams put on a clinic before and hopefully he can maintain that backup running back spot for the duration of the season.