With Isiah Pacheco back, the Chiefs stuck with it Kareem Hunt as a key player on offense. The reunion with Hunt’s Chiefs continued a season of inactivity Clyde Edwards Helaire. The former first-round pick is now completely removed from the team’s roster.

The Chiefs cut Edwards-Helaire on Monday, the fifth running back was announced. This frees up a roster spot in Kansas City Marquise Brown is preparing for a possible debut with the team in Week 16.

Edwards-Helaire began his career as a starter for the team, but failed to live up to the expectations that came with being drafted at No. 32 overall. Pacheco, a former seventh-round pick, had usurped him; the Chiefs had Pacheco and Jerick McKinnon playing in front of Edwards-Helaire last season. Although the team did not re-sign McKinnon, it did not find room for CEH in its gameday rosters. Since coming off the reserve/non-football illness list, Edwards-Helaire has been a healthy rookie.

It’s possible that Edwards-Helaire will be brought back on a practice deal, but the LSU alum’s message certainly doesn’t indicate that’s happening. When the time comes for the 5-foot-7 Kansas City player, he will complete his Missouri run with 32 starts, 1,845 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns.

The Chiefs used one of their activations to add Edwards-Helaire back to the 53-man roster after placing him on the NFI list earlier in the season. However, after Pacheco broke his leg in the second week, Hunt quickly re-entered the fray as the team’s primary defender. Hunt remains on the Kansas City roster with UDFA Carson Steele is still available as a third stringer and Samaje Perine as a pass-down specialist. Teams don’t make a habit of having five RBs, so the roster calculation here makes sense – especially if the Chiefs need a spot for Brown.

Hosting JK Dobbins During a free agent visit on April 2, the Chiefs instead opted to re-sign Edwards-Helaire to a one-year, $1.7 million contract. This release will leave the team with just under $200,000 in dead money. Having almost recovered from the shoulder injury that sidelined him all season, Brown is on track to be activated soon.

Edwards-Helaire debuted with a 138-yard, two-touchdown performance and failed to consistently show off the passing prowess that led to his arrival in the first round. He has also struggled with injuries, having missed time in each of his four seasons prior to this year’s NFI stint. In the playoffs, Edwards-Helaire missed 24 games from 2020-23. Still, he’s considered an option for a running back-needy team with waivers. Clubs have until 3:00 p.m. CT on Tuesday to file a claim.