Aug 22, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire (25) warms up against the Chicago Bears prior to a game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Chiefs open practice window for RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire

The Kansas City Chiefs opened the 21-day practice window for running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire.

The Chiefs’ transaction came on Wednesday. They will have 21 days to activate or shut down Edwards-Helaire, who began the season on the reserve/non-football illness list.

In August, Edwards-Helaire revealed on social media and also shared with reporters at training camp that he has been impacted by post-traumatic stress disorder since December 2018.

“Sometimes I’m admitted into the hospital, something like I can’t stop throwing up and it’s just, I (don’t) know (anything) pretty much to stop it,” he said, per ESPN.

“Real bad dehydration … but it’s really just mentally just not being there,” he said, adding alert teammates can notice that, “‘OK, Clyde’s not laughing, he’s not giggling, he’s not himself.’”

Edwards-Helaire, 25, did not disclose the cause of his PTSD, other than to cite “a self-defense situation” that he went through in college.

The Chiefs (4-0) are adjusting to the loss of running back Isiah Pacheco, who underwent surgery on his fractured fibula last month and is expected be sidelined until at least November.

Kareem Hunt rushed for 69 yards and fellow running back Samaje Perine scored a touchdown in Kansas City’s 17-10 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.

The Chiefs selected Edwards-Helaire in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of LSU. In 48 games (32 starts) over four seasons, he has rushed 441 times for 1,845 yards with 12 touchdowns. He’s added 765 receiving yards and seven scores.

Kansas City hosts the New Orleans Saints (2-2) on Monday night.

–Field Level Media

Sep 15, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (10) catches a pass against Cincinnati Bengals safety Vonn Bell (24) at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Chiefs put Isiah Pacheco on IR, Kareem Hunt on practice squad

The Kansas City Chiefs placed running back Isiah Pacheco on injured reserve Wednesday.

Pacheco is expected to undergo surgery on his fractured fibula Wednesday, three days after he sustained the injury during Kansas City’s 26-25 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.

The move on Wednesday guarantees Pacheco will sit out at least the next four games.

Reports have Pacheco sidelined for 6-8 weeks. However, Chiefs coach Andy Reid told reporters Wednesday that he could not relay a precise timeline for the running back’s expected absence.

The Chiefs addressed their backfield on Wednesday by signing Keaontay Ingram to the active roster and fellow running back Kareem Hunt to the practice squad.

“We’ll get (Hunt) in there and get him some work. Kind of get him back in the swing of playing and we’ll just see,” Reid said. “We’ve got to get him in a position to where he’s ready to play either this, next week or the following week.”

Pacheco, 25, had 90 yards on 19 carries and caught five passes for 21 yards on Sunday. He has a team-high 135 rushing yards through two games.

Since being drafted in the seventh round in 2022, Pacheco has won two Super Bowl championships and racked up 2,328 yards from scrimmage with 15 touchdowns in 33 games (26 starts). He has another 635 yards and four TDs from scrimmage in seven playoff starts.

Veteran Samaje Perine, 29, is listed as Pacheco’s backup on the depth chart but played sparingly on Sunday. He’s viewed as a third-down back.

Undrafted rookie Carson Steele, 21, carried seven times for 24 yards and lost a fumble against Cincinnati.

Hunt, 29, was a third-round pick by the Chiefs in the 2017 NFL Draft and spent most of the first two years of his professional career in Kansas City, including a Pro Bowl rookie season in which he posted 1,327 rushing yards to lead the league.

Kansas City released Hunt in November 2018 after a video surfaced of him shoving and kicking a woman in a hotel. After authorities did not move forward with criminal charges, Hunt rebooted his career with the Cleveland Browns in 2019.

“At the end of the day, I root for the person. He’s become a better and better person,” star quarterback Patrick Mahomes said of Hunt. “I’m glad to have him back in the building.”

Last season, Hunt appeared in 15 games with two starts for the Browns. He was re-signed after starter Nick Chubb went down with a season-ending knee injury in Week 2. He rushed 135 times for 411 yards with nine touchdowns and also caught 15 passes for 84 yards.

Hunt was a free agent when he underwent surgery in January for a ruptured adductor that apparently plagued him much of the 2023 season.

In 91 career games (38 starts) with the Chiefs (2017-18) and Browns, Hunt has gained 6,326 yards from scrimmage with 57 scores.

Ingram, 24, rushed for 74 yards and had four catches for 26 yards in eight games (one start) last season with the Arizona Cardinals.

–Field Level Media

Bengals running back Samaje Perine  tries to slip a tackle by Bills linebacker Matt Milano.

Reports: RB Samaje Perine signing with Broncos

The Denver Broncos added to their running back depth chart by agreeing to a two-year deal with free agent Samaje Perine on Tuesday, multiple reports said.

The deal is worth $7.5 million and another $1 million in incentives, according to NFL Network.

No contract can become official until Wednesday, the first day of the new league year.

Perine ran 95 times for 394 yards and two touchdowns and caught 38 passes for 287 yards and four touchdowns for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2022.

Perine had been with the Bengals since 2019 after brief stints with Washington (2017-18) and Miami (2019). He was a fourth-round pick by Washington in the 2017 draft.

In 76 career games (11 starts) in his six-year career, Perine has amassed 1,592 rushing yards and seven touchdowns, plus 101 receptions for 736 yards and six receiving touchdowns.

The Broncos waived running back Melvin Gordon during 2022 and dealt with injuries at the position to Javonte Williams, Latavius Murray, Mike Boone and Marlon Mack. Murray is a free agent, and Boone has already agreed to sign with the Houston Texans.

–Field Level Media

Oct 10, 2021; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals guard Jackson Carman (79) runs onto the field prior to the game against the Green Bay Packers at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports

Bengals activate G Jackson Carman off COVID list

The Cincinnati Bengals activated rookie guard Jackson Carman off the reserve/COVID-19 list on Friday.

Carman, who was placed on the list Monday, returns to the active roster in time for Sunday’s game at Detroit.

Carman, 21, is vaccinated and was asymptomatic, making him eligible to return to work after two negative tests 24 hours apart.

Drafted in the second round out of Clemson, he has started the past three games at right guard.

Running back Samaje Perine remains on the COVID list as the Bengals (3-2) prepare to face the Lions (0-5).

–Field Level Media

Oct 10, 2021; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals guard Jackson Carman (79) runs onto the field prior to the game against the Green Bay Packers at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports

Bengals put OL Jackson Carman, RB Samaje Perine on COVID list

The Cincinnati Bengals on Monday put rookie offensive lineman Jackson Carman and backup running back Samaje Perine on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

It’s unclear if the duo tested positive for the virus. It’s also unclear if they’re vaccinated. Players are not required to go on COVID reserve as close contacts if they’re vaccinated.

Carman has started the past three games at right guard in place of the injured Xavier Su’a-Filo. The 2021 second-round pick played 100 percent of the team’s offensive snaps in those games.

Perine played 61 percent of the offensive snaps in Sunday’s loss to the Green Bay Packers with starting RB Joe Mixon battling an ankle injury. Perine rushed 11 times for 59 yards and caught four passes for 24 yards — all season highs — and a touchdown in the 25-22 overtime defeat.

Starting quarterback Joe Burrow was released from the hospital Sunday night after suffering a potential throat contusion during the game. He was reportedly having trouble speaking after the game and did not talk to the media.

The Bengals also put linebacker Jordan Evans on injured reserve. The fifth-year player injured his left knee during Sunday’s game, reportedly suffering a torn ACL.

–Field Level Media