Kansas City’s fourth-year running back will play a crucial role in defending the team’s 2022 title.
Despite a rocky end to his 2022 season, Kansas City Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire is entering the new season with a new attitude.
“His mindset is totally different,” first-year Chiefs running backs coach Todd Pinkston told reporters during a car wash of assistant coaches at the podium on Thursday, following an OTA practice session at the team’s practice facility. “I told him [to] press the reset button and start from scratch and we can go from there.”
WATCH: An energetic #Chiefs Clyde Edwards-Helaire taking some reps during today’s media look pic.twitter.com/EybL1wHO7Y
— Aaron Ladd (@aaronladdtv) June 1, 2023
After missing nine games on injured reserve with an ankle injury, Edwards-Helaire was declared inactive for Super Bowl LVII. Social media detectives delved into a potential rift between the team and the running back after he was prominently absent from the team’s championship parade.
“He’s done a great job of just really focusing on right now,” offensive coordinator Matt Nagy said of the fourth-year pro out of Louisiana State, “[He’s giving] everything he can in practice, in the meeting rooms and just being a leader. [He’s] able to understand his role with us.
“It’s a very important position — and his attitude has been phenomenal.”
With second-year starter Isiah Pacheco sidelined due to offseason surgeries, Edwards-Helaire has shined in first-team reps.
RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire is in great shape, and Reid said he noticed he looks quick and strong. CEH caught a TD down the left sideline from Mahomes during 7-on-7, which had Travis Kelce screaming in excitement. CEH is stepping up early in offseason with Isiah Pacheco sidelined.
— Pete Sweeney (@pgsween) May 24, 2023
“I had all the running backs give me their goals going into the OTAs — and he wanted to be a lot more vocal,” Pinkston said of Edwards-Helaire. “And he’s been doing that — helping me out along the way as well as Coach Elliot.”