Chiefs might be giving Kareem Hunt a chance to mend fences after all

It's taken five years for the possibility to present itself in a reasonable way, but the Kansas City Chiefs and running back Kareem Hunt might prove able to mend fences after all this time. That's because the Chiefs are reportedly bringing in the veteran for a workout and visit as a free agent in the wake of injuries in the backfield.

It's no secret that the Chiefs need some external help at running back with Isiah Pacheco out for several weeks following a fibula fracture sustained late in the team's win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. The situation is also exacerbated by the preseason placement of Clyde Edwards-Helaire on the NFI list to start the year—which guarantees his absence for the first four weeks of the season.

In the wake of Isiah Pacheco's injury, the Chiefs are bringing in Kareem Hunt for a visit.

Hunt is a former third-round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs who led the NFL in rushing in his first season with the team in 2017. During the following season, Hunt was once again proving to be a central part of the Chiefs offense, but assault charges and subsequent lies about the situation forced the Chiefs to release him outright less than two seasons after drafting him.

From there, the Cleveland Browns have given him a home year after year and that's where he's shared a backfield with Nick Chubb since 2019. While he's never been a featured back in that time, he has been an important goal-line contributor in that span. He's averaged 5 rushing scores and 457 yards on the ground since joining Cleveland.

With Kansas City, Hunt was the third explosive member of a trio that also included tight end Travis Kelce and wide receiver Tyreek Hill. Together, they boasted the title of the most dynamic offense in the NFL. For some perspective, Hunt had 100 less rushing yards in 27 games with the Chiefs than he did in 64 games with the Browns.

Over the last few years, Hunt has been available as a free agent from time to time, but talks of a reunion in K.C. have never surfaced. Trust issues were always used to explain the rift, but perhaps enough time has passed to make something happen.

Without Pacheco and Edwards-Helaire, the Chiefs have Samaje Perine, who was himself a preseason acquisition, and rookie free agent Carson Steele as the next two players on the list. Internal candidates on the practice squad are Emani Bailey and Keaontay Ingram.