Clyde Edwards-Helaire Believed to Have High Ankle Sprain, Could Return for Playoffs
Kansas City Chiefs rookie running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire is believed to have suffered a high ankle sprain and a strained hip in the Chiefs' 32-29 victory over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, according to reports from Adam Schefter of ESPN and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
Edwards-Helaire is "expected to miss the rest of the regular season and the hope is he can return during the postseason, according to the source," according to Schefter's report on ESPN.com. Edwards-Helaire is set to have an MRI on Monday to get specifics on the injury.
Rapoport echoed that sentiment on NFL Network on Monday morning.
"It definitely seems like it looked a lot worse than it actually is," Rapoport said. "My understanding is that he's done for the regular season, not a surprise, the safe move for the Kansas City Chiefs, but based on the MRI, they're hoping for good news and a chance he could be back for the playoffs."
Considering the nature of how Edwards-Helaire's injury looked on the field and his inability to put any weight on his left leg as he was helped to the locker room, this report is good news for Edwards-Helaire and the Chiefs.
After the game, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid gave limited details about Edwards-Helaire's injury, noting that X-rays came back negative at the time.
"Clyde got twisted up," Reid said. "He had the splits. The X-rays were negative, but we will evaluate him as we go."
Later, Reid was asked if he had any further specifics about the rookie's injury.
“He got stretched," Reid said. "You probably saw that where he did the splits. Both legs were sore. He is going into evaluation right now. He already got the X-rays done and they were negative."
After the game, Edwards-Helaire tweeted his thanks for the support he had seen from Chiefs fans following his scary injury.
Fellow running back Le'Veon Bell, who would be likely to see a further-increased role in Edwards-Helaire's absence, said he spoke to Edwards-Helaire after the game and that the young back was in good spirit despite his injury.
"When I saw the injury with Clyde, I was praying for the best," Bell said. "It's an ugly way to get tackled. I really thought it was ankle at first. I'm not sure what it was, but he said his ankle felt good. We're going to see what happens. I can't really speak too much on his injury. We'll obviously try to work him back and see what happens."
In his Monday press conference, Reid said he didn't have any new information on Edwards-Helaire at the time and said he is still going through the evaluation period.
"I haven't even got that far yet," Reid said about Edwards-Helaire being a candidate for the injured reserve. "He's still going through evaluations right now so we'll know more later in the day."
Later on Monday, Rapoport tweeted that further tests have confirmed the initial diagnosis of a hip and ankle injury.
Rapoport said he has a shot to play in the playoffs depending on his rehab. He explained in another tweet that Edwards-Helaire's hip strain will more than likely take less time to heal than his ankle injury would but he should be on pace to return by the divisional round.
