The Kansas City Chiefs are gearing up to face the Denver Broncos after the bye week. Going against one of the toughest defenses in the league isn't what the doctor ordered to bounce back from a tough loss, but you have to beat the best to be the best.
Unfortunately for Andy Reid's team, they won't be at full strength. Once again, starting running back Isiah Pacheco isn't going to practice with a leg injury, and he's unlikely to suit up on Sunday.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire Should Continue to Get Touches
According to Matt Derrick of ChiefsDigest.com, Pacheco is the only Chiefs player who's not going to partake in Wednesday's practice. Everybody else, including rookie left tackle Josh Simmons, will be good to go.
"Andy Reid says Isiah Pacheco is the only Chiefs player not expected to practice Wednesday afternoon. Everyone else should go in some form," wrote Derrick.
That most likely means business as usual in Kansas City. This leaves the door wide open for Clyde Edwards-Helaire to keep getting work ahead of Elijah Mitchell. The former first-round pick returned to the team in the wake of Pacheco's injury in time for the game against the Buffalo Bills.
Most people expected Mitchell to get the nod and carry the ball alongside Kareem Hunt and rookie Brashard Smith. Coach Reid, however, thought that Edwards-Helaire's familiarity with the system gave him an edge:
“We really like Elijah, obviously, or he wouldn’t be here,” Reid said on Monday, per Nick Roesch of A to Z Sports. “I think that makes a big statement. But, Clyde knows all the protections. He knows all that. Not only does he know it, he’s done it, and we’ve seen him do it. There’s a comfort there. Not that Elijah doesn’t (know the protections) he’s a very sharp kid. We’ve just seen our guy (Edwards-Helaire) do it. That was the only reason why.”
Edwards-Helaire played two snaps and logged five rushing yards. Those were his first snaps with the team since 2023. The Chiefs waived him last December and brought him back in August after he spent some time with the New Orleans Saints.
Of course, it makes sense that Reid wants to roll with someone he knows and trusts. However, the former LSU star saw his production decline from year to year during his time in Kansas City, making it hard to believe he'll give them much more in his return.
Granted, Elijah Mitchell might not make much of a difference, and Hunt and Smith will most likely handle the bulk of the workload in Pacheco's absence. Even so, the Chiefs already know what they can get from Edwards-Helaire, and there's a reason why they cut ties with him in the first place.