Sunday return for KC Chiefs’ Edwards-Helaire ‘probably a stretch,’ coach Andy Reid says
The Chiefs are unlikely to activate recuperating running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire for Sunday night’s game in Las Vegas against the Raiders.
Edwards-Helaire (knee) returned to practice earlier in the week after being designated to do so from injured reserve. The second-year pro has “looked good,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said, but having him ready to play Sunday at Allegiant Stadium doesn’t appear to be in the cards.
“I would probably tell you it’s probably a stretch,” Reid said.
Edwards-Helaire sprained an MCL in Week 5. He has missed four straight games and the Chiefs may want more time to evaluate his level of conditioning before moving him back to their active roster.
“He worked hard, just kind of just getting back in the flow of things,” Reid said. “So that’s where we’re at ...”
The Chiefs have 21 days to decide whether to activate Edwards-Helaire to their 53-player roster or leave him on injured reserve.
Assuming Edwards-Helaire isn’t activated for Sunday’s game, the Chiefs will continue to lean on a mixture of running backs Darrel Williams, Derrick Gore and Jerick McKinnon for their ground game.
If that’s the Chiefs’ Plan B at running back, they’re now on Plan C at right tackle. Reid said Friday that neither veteran Mike Remmers (knee) nor rookie Lucas Niang (ribs) would play Sunday. Neither tackle has practiced this week.
Veteran Andrew Wylie, who can play either guard or tackle, is the presumptive next man up again. He played last Sunday against the Packers after Niang left with an injury. He would become the third player to start at right tackle for the Chiefs this season. He also started at right tackle in Super Bowl LV.
Niang started the Chiefs’ first five games this season before giving way to Remmers in Week 6. Remmers started in Weeks 6-7 before hurting his knee. Niang got the Week 8 start, then went down injured. The Chiefs also have tackle Prince Tega Wanoghoon their active 53-man roster.
In other personnel-related news, the Chiefs should have defensive lineman Chris Jones and linebacker Dorian O’Daniel available for a normal workload Sunday night. Jones and O’Daniel were excused from practice Wednesday and Thursday for personal reasons but returned to practice on Friday. Neither player carries a game designation.
The Chiefs listed corneback L’Jarius Sneed (ankle, wrist) as questionable on Friday’s injury report. He put in a full practice Friday after being limited Thursday.
Offensive lineman Kyle Long (knee), who remains on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, returned to practice this week, but the Chiefs might not believe he’s ready to return to the active roster just yet.
“It’s just a matter of making sure he’s in good football shape,” Reid said.
This story was originally published November 12, 2021 at 2:24 PM.
