KC Chiefs sign Melvin Gordon to their practice squad

The KC Chiefs have signed former Chargers and Broncos running back Melvin Gordon to their practice squad after his release from Denver last week.

The Kansas City Chiefs have signed former Chargers and Broncos running back Melvin Gordon to their practice squad, per Tom Pelissero. This comes just a week after the Denver Broncos released the 29-year-old after he fumbled for the fifth time this season in Week 11.

So far this season, Melvin Gordon has 90 carries for 315 yards and two touchdowns, but a league-leading five fumbles among running backs. He was first drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft. With the Chargers, he rushed for 4,240 yards and 36 rushing touchdowns in addition to 1,873 receiving yards and 11 receiving touchdowns. He signed with the Denver Broncos prior to the 2020 season, where he rushed for 2,222 yards and 19 rushing touchdowns, plus 594 receiving yards and 3 receiving touchdowns in his time with the Mile High franchise.

This signing does make a little sense as Clyde Edwards-Helaire was placed on injured reserve last week due to an ankle injury suffered in the 30-27 win over the Los Angeles Chargers and will be out at least through Week 15. The Chiefs have Isiah Pacheco, Jerick McKinnon, and Ronald Jones on the active roster, but it never hurts to have depth at a position that takes a lot of hits every game. Despite the fumble issues, he’s a solid fourth running back, who will only see in the field if Kansas City has another injury at the position. He’s not a great pass blocker, so his role would likely be limited to just a rushing one.

This a low-risk, medium-reward signing for Kansas City. In an ideal world, Melvin Gordon would never see the field for the Chiefs, but injuries do happen in the NFL. Hopefully, he can clean up his fumbling issues, but that has been a problem for him over the past four seasons that has gotten a lot worse this year. It’s very possible he is released again once CEH is cleared to return and doesn’t play a snap this season for a team that’s in a solid position to compete for Super Bowl LVII.