Kansas City Chiefs’ Clyde Edwards-Helaire ‘looked pretty good’ in return to practice
The Chiefs’ backfield is one step closer to returning to full strength.
Second-year running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who was designated Wednesday to return from injured reserve, got in some work and looked impressive.
“I thought he looked pretty good,” Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy said. “(H)e’s doing everything he has to do in order to get back and do what he can to help us.”
Edwards-Helaire sprained the MCL in one of his knees in the Chiefs’ Week 5 home loss to the Buffalo Bills. He was placed on the injured reserve list in the days that followed. With the official designation Thursday that he’s returned to practice, the Chiefs have a 21-day window in which to decide whether to activate him to their 53-player roster or keep him on injured reserve.
The Chiefs have relied on a combination of Darrel Williams, Derrick Gore and Jerick McKinnon at running back in the four games that Edwards-Helaire has missed. Each brings his own running style to the field, Bieniemy said, but the Chiefs need what Edwards-Helaire can offer.
Edwards-Helaire’s 304-yard rushing total still leads the team in that offensive statistic, even with all the time he has missed.
“One thing with Clyde, I mean, you’re missing a dynamic football player who’s a jack of all trades,” Bieniemy said. “He does a great job when running the ball, does a great job out of the backfield, does a great job in pass protection.
“I think each and every one of those guys brings something different to the table, but that’s what we’re missing with Clyde.”
The Chiefs aren’t required to list Edwards-Helaire on their daily NFL practice report while he’s on the injured reserve list.
Tackle Mike Remmers (knee), tackle Lucas Niang (ribs), defensive tackle Chris Jones (excused for personal reasons) and linebacker Dorian O’Daniel (also excused for personal reasons) were not able to practice on Thursday — the second straight day of missed practice for all four.
With Remmers and Niang sidelined, veteran Andrew Wylie would likely see the bulk of the first-team snaps at right tackle ahead of Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders. Wylie played the majority of last Sunday’s matchup against the Packers, which the Chiefs won 13-7 at Arrowhead Stadium, after Niang was hurt early in the game.
Cornerback L’Jarius Sneed, who didn’t practice Wednesday because of a knee injury, was expected back on the practice field Thursday in some capacity. The Chiefs later designated Sneed as a limited participant, meaning he didn’t see a full workload.
Wide receiver Tyreek Hill (ankle), tight end Travis Kelce (neck), defensive end Frank Clark (abdomen, foot), tackle Orlando Brown Jr. (toe), left guard Joe Thuney (hand), fullback Michael Burton (pectoral), cornerback Chris Lammons (quad), defensive tackle Khalen Saunders (knee) and safety Armani Watts (thigh) practiced fully for a second straight day.
For the Raiders, linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski (ankle), safety Tyree Gillespie (hamstring), cornerback Keisean Nixon (ankle) and cornerback Amik Robertson (hip) did not practice Thursday. Linebacker K.J. Wright (shoulder) was limited.
Wide receiver Hunter Renfrow (ankle), running back Josh Jacobs (knee), tight end Darren Waller (not injury-related) and defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins (back) practiced fully.
This story was originally published November 11, 2021 at 1:41 PM.
