Chiefs waive RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire

With Isiah Pacheco back, the Chiefs stuck with it Kareem Hunt as a key player on offense. Hunt’s return continued a season of inactivity Clyde Edwards Helaire. The former first-round pick is now completely removed from the team’s roster.

The Chiefs cut Edwards-Helaire on Monday, the fifth running back was announced. This frees up a roster spot in Kansas City Marquise Brown is preparing for a possible debut with the team in Week 16.

Edwards-Helaire began his career as a starter for the team, but failed to live up to the expectations that came with being drafted at No. 32 overall. Pacheco, a former seventh-round pick, had usurped him; the Chiefs had Pacheco and Jerick McKinnon playing in front of Edwards-Helaire last season. Although the team did not re-sign McKinnon, it did not find room for CEH in its gameday rosters. Since coming off the reserve/non-football illness list, Edwards-Helaire has been a healthy rookie.

It’s possible that Edwards-Helaire will be brought back on a practice deal, but the LSU alum’s message certainly doesn’t indicate that’s happening. When the time comes for the 5-foot-7 Kansas City player, he will complete his Missouri run with 32 starts, 1,845 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns.

The Chiefs used one of their activations to add Edwards-Helaire back to the 53-man roster after placing him on the NFI list earlier in the season. However, after Pacheco broke his leg in the second week, Hunt quickly re-entered the fray as the team’s primary defender. Hunt remains on the Kansas City roster with UDFA Carson Steele is still available as a third stringer and Samaje Perine as a pass-down specialist. Teams don’t make a habit of having five RBs, so the roster calculation here makes sense – especially if the Chiefs need a spot for Brown.

More will follow.