KC Chiefs are dealing with multiple injuries at running back

If the 2021 regular season were to begin today, things would be interesting for the K.C. Chiefs in terms of their offensive backfield and who exactly would be available. That’s because the running backs at the top of the depth chart are both limited or out with injuries at this point.

Clyde Edwards-Helaire is the Chiefs lead back heading into his second year, but he’s plagued at present by an ankle sprain that has him limited with a sort of nebulous update from head coach Andy Reid. It was an injury suffered on Friday in the team’s win over the Arizona Cardinals in the second preseason game, and immediately after, Reid stated that it looked like a mild sprain with further tests to come. On Monday, Reid said it was sore with a “we’ll see” approach.

As for his primary backup, Darrel Williams has been out ever since he also was injured in the same game with a head injury that placed him in the team’s concussion protocol. Williams hasn’t practiced or engaged in any team activity since then and he won’t until he’s medically cleared. (Note: offensive lineman Yasir Durant is also in the team’s concussion protocol.)

The K.C. Chiefs are hurting at running back right now.

The upside on Edwards-Helaire is that he was able to participate in a walkthrough on Monday as the Chiefs started a new week at Arrowhead. (Remember that training camp is officially done in St. Joseph.)

The good news for the Chiefs is that the team wasn’t expected to play its starters in the final preseason tilt, which comes on Friday evening against the visiting Minnesota Vikings. From there, the Chiefs will have another two weeks to rest before hosting the Cleveland Browns in the season opener on Sunday, September 12. Unless these injuries linger for much longer than expected, both players should be fine when it comes down to it.

In case something goes awry for either, the Chiefs do have a well-rounded back in Jerick McKinnon who would be plenty capable of handling a bigger workload. The Chiefs also had two young backs who’ve looked good in preseason play behind them in Darwin Thompson and Derrick Gore.