KANSAS CITY, Mo. — An illness will prevent Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire from traveling to Germany with the club Thursday evening, and he’s been ruled out for the team’s game against the Miami Dolphins in Frankfurt in Week 9.
Edwards-Helaire played in each of the team’s first eight games including one start, averaging just more than eight snaps per game. He has 109 yards rushing on the season with one touchdown, averaging 3.3 yards per carry. He’s also caught six passes for 36 yards. He’s the team’s third-leading rusher on the season behind Isiah Pacheco (459 yards) and Patrick Mahomes (234).
The absence of Edwards-Helaire comes with Jerick McKinnon dealing with a groin injury. The team held McKinnon out of practice on Wednesday but he returned on Thursday in a limited role. McKinnon has averaged 21.6 snaps on offense per game and has also played on 52% of the club’s special teams snaps. Edwards-Helaire does not play on special teams.
With Edwards-Helaire ruled out, the club will likely elevate practice squad running back La’Mical Perine for Sunday’s game. Perine was elevated from the practice squad for the team’s Week 2 contest at Jacksonville as insurance for Edwards-Helaire, who was questionable for that game due to an illness. Edwards-Helaire was able to play and Perine was among the inactive players for that game.
Perine joined the Chiefs practice squad in January and was with the club for their Super Bowl LVII victory, signing a reserve/future contract on Feb. 15. During the preseason, Perine led the Chiefs in rushing with 97 yards on 16 carries, a robust 6.1 yards per carry. He also caught four passes for 50 yards, including a 20-yard touchdown reception against Cleveland.
The 25-year-old Perine entered the league as a fourth-round selection by the New York Jets in 2020 from Florida. He played in 14 games for the Jets over the parts of two seasons, rushing for 263 yards and two scores in 72 attempts, averaging 3.7 yards per carry.
The Chiefs also have practice squad running back Deneric Prince available if needed. The undrafted rookie free agent from Tulsa rushed for 79 yards on 22 carries during the preseason, averaging 3.6 yards per attempt.
