With Isiah Pacheco sidelined by a knee injury, the RB3 spot has become a sizable conversation among Kansas City Chiefs fans over the last few weeks.
Chiefs fans thought this was a good opportunity for Elijah Mitchell to get some playing time, who has been inactive for most of the season. Mitchell didn’t play in Week 9 against Buffalo, as the Chiefs opted for the familiar face in Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who didn’t do much with his limited snaps.
But coming out of the Week 10 bye, the Chiefs reversed course in Week 11, going with Mitchell. However, he only played seven offensive snaps, which was disappointing. One would think that the veteran would get more chances in Week 12, but KC made him inactive and went back to Edwards-Helaire.
Yet, in the aftermath of KC's thrilling overtime win over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, the team has decided to bring in a new face: Dameon Pierce (according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz). Considering the lack of a true RB3 to this point and Pierce's past promising signs, this partnership for the stretch run is a no-brainer.
Dameon Pierce Is Perfect Low-Risk Signing at This Point in Season
On Friday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC-2 reported that multiple teams are interested in the ex-Texans running back since he’s been waived. Before getting sent packing by the Texans, Pierce wasn’t playing much, only appearing in four games (36 total snaps).
This was a massive departure for the veteran running back, who burst onto the scene with 939 rushing yards as a rookie. He also showed the ability to be a playmaker in the passing game with 43 receptions (56 targets) for 266 yards and a touchdown over his first two seasons.
That said, Pierce has a lot to prove after recent lacking production and Houston moving in a different direction at RB, but the Chiefs could be the right team to get him back on track. Kansas City needs another running back who has a nice blend of power and wiggle, and can help in pass protection, which is something that Brashard Smith could improve at.
In addition to what he can do on offense, Pierce can also give the Chiefs another option on kick returns. For his career, the former Texans running back is averaging 32.8 yards per return. This season, the Chiefs are averaging 27.2 yards per kick return, good for eighth in the league.
The addition of Pierce may signal the end for Mitchell, who could find himself a fresh start for the final month of the regular season. For now, though, Pierce will start on the practice squad and look to steal Mitchell's spot on the 53-man roster.