Back in 2022, the Kansas City Chiefs turned to seventh-round pick Isiah Pacheco to replace their struggling starter. Fast forward to Sunday's statement win over the Baltimore Ravens, and the Chiefs fans might understand why some people say time is a flat circle.
Rookie running back Brashard Smith, whom the Chiefs drafted 228th overall in April, had a standout performance in the victory against the Ravens. The former SMU product's effort is a strong case to get more playing time going forward, and it seems that head coach Andy Reid couldn't agree more.
Chiefs HC Andy Reid Wants to Get RB Brashard Smith More Involved
“We’ve been trying to increase some of his play time,” Reid said of Smith, per KMBC's Nick Sloan. “He’s got a lot of talent, so we’re working him in different spots. We were able to get (Jaylen) Royals in, too, a couple of rookies.”
Smith, who had only been out there 21 offensive snaps in the first three weeks of the season, played 19 snaps against the Ravens. He turned his opportunities into four carries, three receptions, and 36 total yards from scrimmage. He also had two kick-return attempts, one of which went for 34 yards.
On paper, his nine rushing yards on four carries weren't particularly exciting, but he certainly aced the eye test and, more importantly, gave the Chiefs some fresh legs and different looks after three weeks of struggling to move the chains on the ground.
The Chiefs clearly need to shake things up and try something different to get the running game going. Kareem Hunt is getting most of the goal-line carries, yet he hasn't been as physical as he was in the past and only has one touchdown. Meanwhile, Pacheco is averaging a pedestrian 2.7 yards per carry and has struggled to put up the same type of explosive, angry runs that made him such a fan favorite in his first two seasons.
Smith isn't the biggest player out there, and he still needs to improve in pass-protection, but he has the burst and change of space that could make him an explosive difference-maker in the Chiefs' somewhat stagnant offense. It's the type of move that would help Kansas City add a new layer, keeping other Super Bowl contenders on their toes in the process.