When the Kansas City Chiefs try to prevent the emergence of Cleveland Browns in the AFC Divisional Round, they will have to do so without running over Clyde Edwards-Helaire. The talented running back missed the final two weeks of the regular season with an ankle injury, but there was hope that he would be healthy enough to return this week – especially with the Chiefs having managed to bye in the wild card round. That does not seem to be the case, however, with Edwards-Helaire allegedly ruled out against the Browns, according to Adam Schefter’s ESPN.
The rookie’s choice in the first round was initially listed as questionable in the final injury report (Friday), but he did not participate in training in the two days prior to the prognosis. Except for a dramatic turnaround in events as the day goes on and potentially in pre-game warm-ups – assuming he is allowed to participate in them – tell Edwards-Helaire to this one.
This will again place the responsibility on the All-Pro running back Le’Veon Bell to carry the load behind current Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes, along with Darwin Thompson and Darrell Williams. Bell is no stranger to being RB1, but he did not demonstrate the explosion in Kansas City that once led him to be one of the NFL’s most feared backs. The three combined for just four touchdowns this season and, for perspective, that number is one less than Edwards-Helaire had.
The good news for the Chiefs is that Mahomes still leads one of the league’s most lethal pass attacks, and impossible to slow down when he starts shooting at all cylinders. But without Edwards-Helaire, the ability to balance everything could be compromised, forcing coach Andy Reid to adjust or asking Bell to become what he was again, assuming he can.