As the Kansas City Chiefs enter a much-needed bye week, it has become clear that rookie running back Brashard Smith isn't getting the job done. Despite having every opportunity to carve out a role, there is no avoiding the fact that Smith has looked entirely overmatched. The rookie has put together only 82 rushing yards, averaging a concerning 2.9 yards per carry, leaving the Chiefs no choice but to make a change. They simply cannot waste carries on trying to help Smith develop during meaningful games.
Smith is a liability in the rushing attack, and that is saying something when you consider the lack of reliable options in the KC backfield. It is time to admit defeat, at least for now, and place him firmly on the bench. There is no way around the fact that the production isn't meeting the standard of Andy Reid's offense, and continuing to waste even a handful of touches on the rookie isn't what's best for the team.
The Chiefs Have No Choice but to Remove Rookie Brashard Smith from the Offense
It may seem like an impatient move, but that's the reality of being a seventh-round rookie on a team that should be in Super Bowl contention. Without making an instant impact, your development needs to come in practice and the offseason, not in costing the team with real-game reps. Benching Smith is the only option at this point.
And replacing the rookie shouldn't be too difficult. Smith played just 12 snaps (20% of the total available) in Week 9's loss to the Buffalo Bills despite Isiah Pacheco being sidelined. Hunt served as the workhorse, and Clyde Edwards-Helaire was even able to get on the field after being elevated from the practice squad.
Elijah Mitchell remains entirely buried for some reason, being made inactive in favor of Edwards-Helaire despite being on the 53-man roster, but at some point even he will be a more appealing option than Smith.
That's not to mention the external options. A splashy trade ahead of the deadline might be wishful thinking, but names like Breece Hall and Alvin Kamara could still be moved ahead of Tuesday's deadline. And even free agency could be an option, with names like Cam Akers, Pierre Strong, Trey Sermon and Jeff Wilson available on other teams' practice squads. Signing one of those names to the 53-man roster could be a tough sell with Mitchell still around, but if he's never going to play the Chiefs may be willing to move on anyway.
The Chiefs have no margin for error at this point. They're still arguably the best team in the NFL, but seeding matters, and they're currently in a fight for a wild card spot. It's not panic time yet, but there is still a sense of urgency that will force Andy Reid to make some difficult decisions.
While there is still a chance that the rookie's career turns around in future seasons, it appears that his time to make an impact as a rookie has run out. There simply is no other path if Kansas City is serious about turning around a frustrating 2025 season.