Getty Kansas City Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire
During the third quarter of the Kansas City Chiefs’ Week 5 game against the Buffalo Bills, second-year running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire was knocked out of the game.
Edwards-Helaire injured his knee, per the team, on a screen play in which he picked up 11 yards. The injury caused him to show visible emotion, pounding the ground seconds after the play ended. He was helped off the field by teammates Tyreek Hill and Darrel Williams.
Soon after Kansas City ruled Edwards-Helaire out for the remainder of the game. Edwards-Helaire had seven rushes for 13 yards and the one catch for 11 yards before exiting the game.
RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire is out with a knee injury
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Reid, Mahomes on CEH Injury
After the game, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid addressed Edwards-Helaire injury, adding specifying where the injury occurred.
“As far as injuries go, Clyde [Edwards-Helaire] hurt his left knee. We’ll just see how it goes overnight here into tomorrow,” he said.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes said he spoke with the second-year back following the injury.
“Obviously [Edwards-Helaire’s] upset, he just wants to play,” Mahomes said. “He had the injury at the end of last year. He’s been rolling these last few weeks. He’s upset. I didn’t get to talk to him after yet, but hopefully it’s nothing too serious and we can get him back before the end of the season.”
Edwards-Helaire’s Season
Through four regular-season games, Edwards-Helaire had 58 rushes for 291 yards — 5.0 yards per carry. He also had seven receptions for 50 yards and two receiving touchdowns. Headed into Week 5, Edwards-Helaire was coming off of back-to-back 100-yard performances on the ground, rushing for 100 and 102 yards against the Los Angeles Chargers and Philadelphia Eagles, respectively, in Week 3 and 4.
“Listen, it’s a young group and it’s a new group—all five are new,” Reid said of Kansas City’s offensive line progression in the run game following the team’s Week 4 win over Philadelphia. “So, they’re getting better as we go, and getting some experience working together I guess is the main thing. But they’ve got a great attitude and they’re working hard, and we’ll just see how things go down the road as they keep growing.”
Kansas City took a running back by committee approach against the Eagles; Edwards-Helaire had 14 carries to Darrel Williams’ 10. Offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy spoke of using a two-headed backfield approach and the benefits of it leading up to the Chiefs’ game against the Bills.
“I think the more the merrier. The more yards you can put on the ground—this is the former running backs coach talking now—the more pressure that it applies to the defense,” Bieniemy said. “It’s been good watching these guys do what they do. More importantly, it’s been fun watching the O-line open up those seams up front. And that’s the thing that I love, these guys are developing a chemistry together. On top of that, you’re seeing the receivers and tight ends getting blocks downfield. Then, the only thing that’s doing is helping Clyde to grow confidence, and watching young Darrel Williams come along as well. So, it’s good that we’re doing this, and we want to continue this, but when it’s all said and done with, we also understand the importance of throwing the football. We’ve got to make sure that we stay efficient and that we’re taking care of the ball. That’s the most important thing.”