Week 15 Might Be Clyde Edwards-Helaire’s Last Chance To Stand Out
For the second week in a row, the Kansas City Chiefs' running back picture will look different than it has for most of the 2023 campaign.
Usual starter Isiah Pacheco is out due to a shoulder injury, with head coach Andy Reid revealing this week that the second-year man underwent surgery. The cleanup procedure appears minor in nature, however, as Reid hinted at Pacheco possibly returning to practice as early as next week. With Pacheco out of the lineup, that naturally places more of an emphasis on the veteran duo of Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Jerick McKinnon to lead the way.
As far as Edwards-Helaire is concerned, there's a chance that this is the last opportunity he has to stand out before presumably hitting free agency for the first time in the spring.
It's been a bumpy ride for the former first-round pick since he entered the league in 2020. His production and snaps have dwindled in each of his four seasons, and Pacheco taking his job early last season essentially sealed his fate in Kansas City. This year, the former LSU Tiger has played in 12 games and toted the ball 51 times for 179 yards (with a career-low average of 3.5 yards per carry). He hasn't been much of a threat in the receiving game either, hauling in just nine passes all season long.
Without Pacheco in the fold last week, though, Edwards-Helaire played a season-high 32 snaps. While he split availability with McKinnon, he got involved in the offense at a much higher clip. Edwards-Helaire got the ball 13 times, whereas McKinnon only got it seven times. The former had 11 rushes for 39 yards and two receptions for 29 yards, accounting for a season-best 68 yards from scrimmage.
Given McKinnon's nagging groin injury, as well as his age, it's expected that Kansas City will once again go to Edwards-Helaire as the primary halfback on Sunday. That's good news for the Baton Rouge native because he has just a few months left to audition for a second contract in the NFL. The Chiefs declined Edwards-Helaire's fifth-year option in May, signaling that he either isn't in the club's plans for the future or is only in them at a discounted rate. Spotrac estimates that Edwards-Helaire is worth $1.6 million via its Calculated Market Value.
If Pacheco returns for next week's game against the Las Vegas Raiders on Christmas, it's unlikely that Edwards-Helaire will get a serious role. After all, he has nine games this season with three or fewer rushing attempts and hasn't logged a reception in five separate contests. McKinnon's safe floor as a pass-protecting option and dynamic receiving threat make him more appealing in a complementary role. When Pacheco plays, Edwards-Helaire simply isn't asked to do a ton.
Perhaps Pacheco misses more than just these two total games and Edwards-Helaire gets another chance to "pop" next week. If not, this very well could be the best mix of workload and circumstance he gets to make a lasting impression on the Chiefs and the rest of the NFL. The shelf life of a running back is inherently short, although depth pieces have a way of sticking around for a while. One of the underrated storylines of Week 15 is Edwards-Helaire's need to either boost his stock or keep it afloat.
