The Kansas City Chiefs have brought back running back Darwin Thompson to the team’s practice squad in the wake of recent injuries in the backfield.
In recent weeks, the Chiefs have watched their talent at running back slowly deplete off the depth chart with one injury concern after another. Even as some guys might be getting healthier, the Chiefs aren’t taking any chances heading into the postseason and are bringing back Thompson as a familiar face who knows the team, the plays, and the players.
The Chiefs are scheduled to host the Steelers on Sunday night and they’re already without Clyde Edwards-Helaire, their lead back and former first-round pick who has been declared out heading into the weekend. It will be his third straight game missed due to a collarbone injury suffered in Week 16.
The Chiefs found a way to bring back Darwin Thompson with other RB injuries so prevalent.
The Chiefs have been used to going without Edwards-Helaire in the last few weeks, but Darrel Williams has been a solid replacement who has stepped up all season long to the tune of eclipsing 1,000 yards from scrimmage. Unfortunately, Williams left the team’s Week 18 win over the Denver Broncos due to a toe injury and he remains on the Chiefs’ injury report.
The Chiefs originally drafted Thompson in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft, but he’s never been able to crack the code to bigger playing time. Thompson had 64 carries for 225 yards and 2 touchdowns in his first two full NFL seasons.
Coming into this year, the Chiefs decided they were going with Jerick McKinnon instead of Thompson when it came to the preseason battle at running back. The Chiefs also had Derrick Gore at the time but decided to cut both him and Thompson. Thompson opted to sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the time instead of re-signing with the Chiefs practice squad in hopes a change of scenery might help.
The Chiefs are now rolling forward with a healthy Gore and McKinnon to go with Williams on Sunday. Thompson is security along with Elijah McGuire in place on the practice squad in case things shift further at the position heading into the postseason.