Chiefs rookie Clyde Edwards-Helaire loving those first-team reps: ‘So far, so good’
Rookie running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire was on the field Sunday in uniform, as he’s been during the first two days of the Chiefs’ full-padded practices.
This time, however, the team’s first-round pick was a spectator on the sidelines because of dehydration as the team practiced for the third day in full pads.
So, how does a player from Louisiana, of all places, get dehydrated?
“It’s hot everywhere right now,” Edwards-Helaire said with a chuckle. “It is what it is and we’re outside working, so I can speak for myself: outside, working, doing what I can do to get fluids in.”
Fluid intake aside, it’s been smooth sailing early in training camp for Edwards-Helaire.
The Chiefs haven’t shown any hint of hesitation about giving their prized new offensive weapon the majority of first-team work during drills, and he hasn’t disappointed through the previous two days.
“I think he’s doing a good job,” Reid said.
Offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy echoed Reid’s assessment.
“The kid’s got a great look about himself,” Bieniemy said. “He works hard, he takes a tremendous amount of pride in everything that he does. … Right now, so far, so good.”
Before training camp started, the Chiefs found themselves down a running back when Damien Williams, last year’s starter, elected to opt out of the 2020 regular season during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The team had options to choose from among Darrel Williams, Darwin Thompson, DeAndre Washington and Elijah McGuire but made the decision to give Edward-Helaire the first shot.
The rookie running back said he hasn’t felt pressure and embraces the opportunity.
“I’ve always been a guy that felt like I just needed to be 100 percent tuned-in from the beginning,” Edwards-Helaire said. “I didn’t have to flip a switch and feel like, ‘Oh, this is now and the time.’
“I mean, since the day I was drafted, I felt like get this playbook, start rolling and do my job. It was never a shell-shocking moment for me, so for the most part I just wanted to come in and work, and do my job.”
Edwards-Helaire believes the benefit of playing at LSU, where the Tigers run a pro-style offense, and practicing against NFL-caliber defenders like linebacker Devin White helped set him up for success.
And Edwards-Helaire’s college resume was plenty impressive. Last season he rushed for 1,414 yards and 16 touchdowns on 215 carries. He’s also a capable receiver, evidenced by 453 yards receiving and a touchdown on 55 catches last year.
Having that kind of skill-set among one of the NFL’s most prolific offenses adds to the air of excitement around the Chiefs’ training complex.
“He’s stepped in, he’s learned the offense, he’s not making a lot of mistakes,” quarterback Patrick Mahomes said. “He’s playing fast and he has an incredible vision. I think that’s what’s been the biggest thing so far.
“The way he’s able to run the ball, find the lanes to run in, catch out of the backfield and get up field and make plays. For him to do that so early is a great sign. He’ll keep getting better and better.”
Scary thought for the rest of the league given the plethora of weapons at Mahomes’ disposal.
Edwards-Helaire has every opportunity to open the regular season as the clear starting running back in the Chiefs’ backfield, provided he keeps up his fluid intake. To his credit, he said Sunday provided a valuable lesson.
“(B)ig output needs huge input,” he said. “So, I’ve just got to hydrate some more.”
PARTICIPATION REPORT
Left tackle Eric Fisher left practice with what Reid said was a concussion.
Defensive tackle Chris Jones missed his second straight day of practice with a groin injury, while wide receiver Sammy Watkins also didn’t practice with a groin injury.
Reid confirmed that cornerback Alex Brown suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament during Saturday’s practice. Brown was eventually placed on injured reseve, according to Sunday’s NFL Transactions report. The coach said defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi, who continues to work off to the side with trainers, continues to recover from an offseason ankle procedure.
Cornerbacks Antonio Hamilton (groin) and Lavert Hill (hamstring), tight end Deon Yelder (groin), wide receiver Byron Pringle (hamstring), defensive tackle Devaroe Lawrence (excused for personal reasons) and linebacker Darius Harris (also excused for personal reasons) did not practice.
Safety Juan Thornhill (knee) and Martinas Rankin (knee) worked to the side with a trainer while on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.
Rookie cornerback Bo Pete Keyes (orbital fracture) returned to practice Sunday after starting training camp on the non-football injury (NFI) list.
TRANSACTIONS
The Chiefs added some depth to the roster Sunday, according to the NFL Transactions report.
Wide receiver Aleva Hifo, who originally signed in late April as an undrafted free agent out BYU, returned to the roster after being waived last week.
The Chiefs also claimed tight end Daniel Helm off waivers from the San Francisco 49ers. Adding a tight end makes sense given Yelder’s status. With Yelder sidelined since the start of padded practices, the Chiefs have worked with just three tights: Travis Kelce, Nick Keizer and Ricky Seals-Jones.
PRIMARY BACKUP
The Chiefs have four quarterbacks on their roster: Mahomes, Chad Henne, Matt Moore and Jordan Ta’amu.
Mahomes is the undisputed starter and the question of who will be his primary backup was answered Sunday.
“Chad is the No. 2,” Reid said. “We want to make sure we give him enough reps.”
The Chiefs have less than a month to get ready for their season and home opener against Houston on Sept. 10, so the distribution of snaps between the first and second units has dominated practices thus far.
OBSERVATIONS
The NFL’s and Chiefs’ media rules during training camp without fans in attendance — fans cannot attend this year because of the pandemic — prohibit the reporting of personnel groupings (first- or second- or third-team units), specific formations/alignments, trick plays, situational plays and statistics.
Still allowed, however, are general observations about head-turning and notable plays:
• Mahomes used Sunday’s practice to make numerous jaw-dropping throws during team drills. Four in particular stood out. The first came on a push-like throw while he was scrambling to his left away from pressure to connect with running back Darwin Thompson for a score. Mahomes also made two throws scrambling to his right as well as deep passes off his back foot for touchdowns, both to wide receiver Tyreek Hill. But perhaps the most impressive sequence came when Mahomes drifted to his left and flicked his wrist like a shortstop. Despite the unorthodox throwing angle, the ball still had plenty of velocity and made its way to the waiting arms of wide receiver Gehrig Dieter in the back of the end zone for a score.
• Speaking of Dieter, he put on a show himself. He was on the receiving end of at least four touchdown pass from Mahomes during team drills. But he also dropped what should’ve been a touchdown when a pass from Mahomes bounced off his hands in the end zone.
• Tight end Travis Kelce had a practice to forget Sunday, with two dropped passes on catchable balls. One came in the end zone on a pass from Mahomes, who exclaimed just as he threw it, “That’s a touchdown!” The second resulted in an interception when Mahomes’ pass bounced off Kelce’s hands into the waiting arms of cornerback Bashaud Breeland.
• Safety Daniel Sorensen made the hit of the day during team drills when he met wide receiver Demarcus Robinson near the goal line on a passing play. Their pads smacked rather loudly, but Sorensen placed both arms around Robinson to keep the receiver upright.
This story was originally published August 16, 2020 at 3:22 PM.
