The Kansas City Chiefs are bolstering their practice squad with familiar faces, bringing back Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Carson Steele at running back, adding quarterback Chris Oladokun to the unit, and re-signing veteran safety Mike Edwards.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire, 26, was a first-round pick by the Chiefs in 2020 out of LSU. He signed a four-year rookie contract worth about $10.8 million, including a $5.43 million signing bonus. After Kansas City declined his fifth-year option, Edwards-Helaire inked a one-year deal to stay with the team for 2024. The Chiefs later released him, and he subsequently joined the Saints’ practice squad, with New Orleans re-signing him in the offseason. In 2023, he appeared in 15 games, rushing for 223 yards on 70 carries (3.2 yards per carry) and one rushing touchdown, while adding 17 receptions on 22 targets for 188 yards and another receiving TD. He did not appear in a game for Kansas City in 2024.
Carson Steele, 22, was a two-year starter at Ball State (2021–2022) before transferring to UCLA in 2023, where he earned First-Team All-MAC honors in 2022 by leading the conference in rushing. The Chiefs signed Steele as an undrafted free agent last year and he earned a spot on the roster. In 2024, Steele played in all 17 games, rushing 183 yards on 56 carries (3.3 YPC) and tallying seven receptions for 26 yards, with no touchdowns.
Chris Oladokun, a quarterback, is also being brought back to the unit, continuing his time in the Chiefs’ organization.
Veteran safety Mike Edwards is rejoining the practice squad as well, adding another veteran presence to the depth chart.
What this suggests: Kansas City is prioritizing depth and flexibility at multiple positions, keeping experienced contributors as potential promotions if injuries or performance openings arise. Edwards-Helaire and Steele provide options behind any current lead backs, Oladokun adds quarterback depth, and Edwards offers veteran steadiness in the secondary.
Summary: The Chiefs are restocking their practice squad with a mix of familiar contributors and young depth, signaling a focus on roster versatility as they navigate the season ahead.
If you’d like, I can add a brief briefing on how practice-squad promotions typically work or provide a quick outlook on how these players might fit into the Chiefs’ plans based on recent injuries or roster needs.