Chiefs Running Back Sent to Locker Room With Ankle Injury

The Kansas City Chiefs had one of their best rushing performances of the season in their 30-27 win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday Night Football, and they did it without their former first-round pick. Running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire exited with an ankle injury and did not return.

#Chiefs HC Andy Reid on RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire's ankle: "He's a tough kid, but that doesn't look good. High ankle sprains aren't the best. We'll see how he does."

Asked whether he feels like he's going to go on IR: "I haven't got that far."

Either way, RoJo time is coming.
— Charles Goldman (@goldmctNFL) November 21, 2022

Edwards-Helaire played five snaps for the Chiefs, rushing twice for nine yards before suffering the high-ankle sprain. Despite his absence, the Chiefs rumbled for 163 rushing yards on only 27 carries, averaging an excellent 6.0 yards per attempt.

An extended absence from Edward-Helaire would likely strengthen Isiah Pacheco's hold on the top spot of the Chiefs running back depth chart. Pacheco was deadly on Sunday Night Football, compiling 107 rushing yards on only 15 carries. He has topped Edwards-Helaire in yards per game (38.6 to 30.2) and yards per attempt (5.1 to 4.3) this season.

Edwards-Helaire joined the Chiefs as their 32nd overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. He had been expected to serve as a deadly all-purpose back in the Chiefs' explosive offense, similar to Kareem Hunt on the 2018 squad, but that never truly manifested. He has totalled 2199 yards from scrimmage with adequate 4.4 yards per attempt and 5.8 yards per target averages over his 33 appearances.