KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Chiefs had taken a wait-and-see approach with running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire’s recovery from an MCL sprain since his return to practice two weeks ago.
Now, his return to game action has officially arrived.
The Chiefs on Saturday activated Edwards-Helaire from injured reserve ahead of Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys at Arrowhead Stadium, a source told The Star.
Edwards-Helaire suffered the knee injury in Week 5 and was placed on injured reserve Oct. 12. The Chiefs’ first-round pick from the 2020 NFL draft has missed five straight games since then. He was designated to return from IR on Nov. 11, opening a 21-day window for the Chiefs to decide whether to activate him or not.
Before his injury, Edwards-Helaire’s 304 yards led the Chiefs in rushing. Darrel Williams, who has started during Edwards-Helaire’s absence, has now rushed for a team-high 343 yards.
Given the amount of time he has missed, it’s unclear whether Edwards-Helaire will be the Chiefs’ primary ball-carrier against the Cowboys. But his presence bolsters the Chiefs’ backfield alongside Williams, Derrick Gore, Jerick McKinnon and fullback Michael Burton. The Cowboys’ run defense ranks ninth in the league, allowing an average of 101.2 yards per game.
In other roster-related news, the Chiefs elevated wide receiver Daurice Fountain from the practice squad to their active 53-player roster, a separate source told The Star. Fountain, a training camp standout who made it through initial roster cuts, provides some depth with wide receiver Marcus Kemp currently on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
The NFL Network first reported the news on Edwards-Helaire.
