Here’s where things stand for Clyde Edwards-Helaire’s status ahead of SNF vs. Broncos

The Kansas City Chiefs were unsure if running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire would be able to play Sunday night after battling a non-COVID illness. 

One thing that has been holding the Kansas City Chiefs back this season is injuries.

Kansas City has been missing various pieces of both its offense and defense at different points in the season, including running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire. The second-year back suffered a knee injury back in Week 5 that has forced him to miss most of the Chiefs season so far.

Edwards-Helaire missed Friday’s practice with what the team called an illness and others have deemed a stomach bug that is making the rounds in the Chiefs locker room. The illness was clarified as not being COVID-related, which meant as long as Edwards-Helaire felt right on Sunday night there wasn’t any protocol from the league that would cause him to miss the game.

And right is exactly how the Chiefs running back sounds.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Chiefs not only got Edwards-Helaire back for a weekend walk-through but are expected to have him ready to go on Sunday night against the Broncos.

As important as he’s been to the offense when healthy, the concern over Edwards-Helaire possibly missing a big Sunday night game against the Broncos was obvious. He rushed the ball 12 times for 63 yards and scored a touchdown in Week 11 against the Cowboys, which was his first game back from injury.

More importantly, Edwards-Helaire was 2-for-2 catching the ball, which is something it appears the Cheifs would like to do more of with him down the stretch of the season. Edwards-Helaire’s pass-catching ability is what helps put him above the other running backs the Chiefs used in his absence, and it’s a dynamic part of Patrick Mahomes’ offense that we’ll likely see a bit more of as CEH is worked more and more back into his star role.