CLEVELAND, Ohio – Browns’ running back, Kareem Hunt, proclaimed on Instagram live after Sunday’s 48-37 victory over the Steelers that “next week’s staff”Against the Chiefs, and Baker Mayfield acknowledged that Hunt, who ran for two tank destroyers, ran hard in Pittsburgh.
“Kareem ran out,” said Mayfield after the game. “He ran as if he wanted to get to Kansas City.”
Hunt, of course, was cut by the Chiefs on November 30, 2018, the day after his video of an altercation with a woman in his downtown Cleveland apartment building the previous February. The Chiefs were aware that an incident had occurred, but felt that he was not honest with them and interrupted him with five games remaining in the season.
Hunt, who led the NFL with 1,327 yards as a Toledo rookie in 2017, returned home to Cleveland and had no idea if he would play football again. Former Browns GM John Dorsey gave him a second chance in 2019, which started with an eight-game suspension.
Hunt reflects on his year of redemption
When the Chiefs arrived at the Super Bowl last season, Hunt took it very seriously, telling a policeman during a high-speed stop that “it hurts my soul” that he wasn’t playing a few days later. But Hunt has returned to normal and has been a good citizen and an excellent player for the Browns ever since, running for 841 yards and six TDs, and getting 38 passes for 304 yards and five TDs.
“This is my man, man,” Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said on Monday at KCSP 610 Sports Radio in Kansas City. “I came with Kareem and we are obviously not together anymore, but I still keep in touch. He’s a great football player, and someone who was one of my best friends when we joined the team together. ”
After the Browns defeated the Steelers to advance to the Sunday afternoon game in Kansas City, Mahomes texted Hunt to congratulate him. Hunt was a big part of the victory, dragging defenders into the final zone and running furious.
“He is very successful in that field every opportunity he has and he is a great football player and someone I know who will get better and better as his career progresses,” said Mahomes. “He is a special football player. He finishes each move, he takes and runs, he can do anything. I am happy that he is back home in Cleveland and he is able to play some really good football. ”
When the Chiefs cut Hunt, Mahomes and coach Andy Reid talked to management about giving him another chance.
“I don’t want to talk about it too much, but I just talked to the guys because Kareem was one of our guys, man,” said Mahomes. “He was not just a great football player, but one of our best friends on the team. We had to continue the battle at an unhappy time, but at the same time, I still have a relationship with Kareem and he is still one of my good friends. ”
Hunt ran for 824 yards and 7 TDs in 11 games for the Chiefs in 2018, and had another nearly 400 receiving yards and 7 TD receptions. He was on pace for his second consecutive 1,000-yard season and was a blow to the Chiefs’ attack. They lost in the wild card round to Tennessee, after beating AFC West with a 10-6 record.
“We just had to continue the battle that year, but now we have changed and he has changed and we are in good positions now,” said Mahomes. “We are going to continue the battle and it is good to face a really good football team and a very good player this weekend. ”
Reid, at his press conference on Monday, also expressed his appreciation for Hunt, who remains close to many other Chiefs, including Travis Kelce, also a Cleveland native.
“Listen, I like Kareem,” said Reid. “I’m happy that things are going well for him. He knows a lot of guys who were on that team last year and he felt bad about not being part of it. I understand all of that. But most of all, I’m happy that he knows that things are going in the right direction for him. He is on a good football team, they are well trained and won their first playoff game. There is something to be said for this. ”
Jack Conklin, Michael Dunn and Robert Jackson on a daily basis
Conklin (hamstring), Dunn (calf) and Jackson (hamstring) are every day for the Chiefs with injuries sustained in the Steelers game.
Conklin left the game in the second quarter and was replaced by Kendall Lamm. Dunn replaced Joel Bitonio, but left in the fourth period with a stiff knee.
Dunn was replaced by first-year player Blake Hance, who met Mayfield for the first time before the game.
Stefanski, who is due to return to the team on Thursday after the quarantine of COVID-19, has not yet met Hance.
“I’m looking forward to it,” he said.
Monday was also Hance’s birthday.
“Happy birthday, Blake,” Stefanski said.
Joel Bitonio, Denzel Ward and others wait back
Bitonio, Ward, KhaDarel Hodge and Kevin Johson are expected to be back this week, but Stefanski will let the COVID-19 protocol work.
He also did not provide any updates on whether the other coaches will return or not, but most or all will be eligible to return. They are offensive line coach Bill Callahan, offensive line assistant Scott Peters, tight ends coach Drew Petzing and secondary coach Jeff Howard.
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