Chiefs’ Andy Reid says team hasn’t lost faith in Knile Davis

For the second straight day, Chiefs coach Andy Reid reiterated that he hasn’t lost faith in demoted running back Knile Davis.

Davis, the team’s 2013 third-round pick, had some success as Jamaal Charles’ primary backup in 2014. Davis rushed for 318 yards in 70 carries — a solid average of 4.5 yards per carry — during a three-game stretch in particular when Charles was banged up.

But this year, Davis has watched Charcandrick West — signed as an undrafted free agent after the 2014 NFL Draft — take the role of lead running back in the wake of Charles’ season-ending ACL injury. What’s more, Davis was inactive for the first time in the Chiefs’ 29-13 win over the Broncos on Sunday as Spencer Ware served as the No. 2 back behind West.

Reid said after that game that the decision to make Davis inactive was because of the special-teams skills of defensive back Saalim Hakim, who was recently signed off the practice squad. Hakim was activated for the first time Sunday and served as a gunner on punt and a corner on punt return. He also participated on the field-goal block and kick-coverage units.

But on Monday, Reid added that Ware’s special-teams skills — and he logged 37 percent of the Chiefs’ special-teams snaps against the Broncos and participated on the kickoff-coverage unit — also gave him an edge over Davis as the Chiefs were considering who to make inactive Sunday.

“We haven’t lost confidence in Knile,” Reid said. “Hakim and Ware ... both have a bigger role (on special teams) than what Knile had. Knile was just doing the (kick) returning, and we felt 13 (De’Anthony Thomas) could do that, too. That’s what it came down to, literally.”

Reid was then asked whether Davis, who has returned two kicks for touchdowns in his NFL career, could contribute to other special-teams groups.

“That hasn’t really been his thing,” Reid said. “I think we’re playing the best guys at those spots. This doesn’t mean that we’ve lost interest in Knile or anything by any means. It’s just trying to find the best group that you can put out there for all these different areas.”

After rushing 134 times for 463 yards and six touchdowns last season, Davis is on track to carry the ball only 37 times for 91 yards and two touchdowns this year. Reid was asked how Davis, 24, has handled his decreased role.

“I think he’s handled it professionally,” Reid said. “That’s all part of this business. He’s a young guy, he’s learning. He’s got a lot of good days ahead of him. This isn’t the end of the road for Knile at all.”

This story was originally published November 16, 2015 at 2:20 PM with the headline "Chiefs’ Andy Reid says team hasn’t lost faith in Knile Davis."