Getty Kansas City Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire stiff-arms a defender on September 12, 2021.
Kansas City Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire missed seven games in 2021 and three games in 2020.
That’s 10 games over his first two years and that doesn’t include the postseason. The former first-round pick didn’t play wildcard weekend against the Pittsburgh Steelers either but he did get some encouraging news for round two.
Chiefs team reporter Matt McMullen tweeted: “Clyde Edwards-Helaire doesn’t have an injury designation for Sunday’s game, which means that he’s good to go. He was a full participant in practice all week.”
Clyde Edwards-Helaire doesn’t have an injury designation for Sunday’s game, which means that he’s good to go. He was a full participant in practice all week.
Darrel Williams (toe) and Rashad Fenton (back) are both questionable.
Not long after, NFL insider Adam Schefter confirmed the news. “Chiefs’ RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire is off the injury report for Sunday night’s Divisional Playoff Game vs. the Bills.”
Chiefs’ RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire is off the injury report for Sunday night’s Divisional Playoff Game vs. the Bills.
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Chiefs Final Injury Report Has 2 Questionable Tags
As McMullen noted, running back Darrel Williams and cornerback Rashad Fenton are both questionable for this weekend.
Williams’ toe injury makes the return of CEH even more important. Even if Jerick McKinnon has been a breath of fresh air at the position in recent weeks, he’s never been that power runner that can plow forward on first down.
That’s Edwards-Helaire and while his game isn’t pretty, it’s still necessary. Despite what some may believe, the Chiefs offense has generally been better with CEH sharing the workload.
Per McMullen, Reid said that Williams “moved around good today,” adding, “let’s see how he does here in the next day and see where he’s at.”
“He moved around good today, but let’s see how he does here in the next day and see where he’s at.”
– Coach Reid on Darrel Williams, who returned to practice today
Fenton was a late scratch against the Steelers due to a back injury and it’s been a slow recovery for the defensive back. As Arrowhead Pride editor Pete Sweeney tweeted, Fenton has not practiced once all week.
According to Coach Reid, Fenton was the only KC player that did not practice. Of course, the Chiefs HC also made a final ruling on linebacker Willie Gay Jr, following his arrest.
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Chiefs Will Need Rushing Attack to Win
I’ll never bet against Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City to outscore someone but they may need their rushing attack to win this one.
Buffalo is coming off an offensive explosion versus the New England Patriots, where they went seven for seven on touchdown drives. The performance was unheard of in the postseason, especially against a defensive mastermind like Bill Belichick.
The Bills also dropped 38 on the Chiefs in Week 5. Albeit, that was a very different KC defense but part of the offensive struggles back in October stemmed from a lack of a run game.
Aside from Mahomes, the leading Chiefs rusher in Week 5 was Williams with 27 yards on five carries. Edwards-Helaire was miserable that outing with 13 yards off seven attempts. McKinnon and fullback Michael Burton then added two yards each.
Establishing a run game could go a long way in keeping the ball out of Josh Allen’s hands, while also controlling the time of possession.