Chiefs’ rookie running back impresses early
Without playing in an NFL game because of the cancellation of the preseason games due to the coronavirus pandemic, Chiefs rookie running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire is already regarded as a threat by NFL defenses.
Heading into the season opener at Arrowhead Stadium, the Texans had to study college game tape of the 5-7, 207-pound first-round draft pick from LSU. Edwards-Helaire rushed for 1,414 yards and 16 touchdowns last season and caught 55 passes for 453 yards and one score before declaring early for the draft.
“He is a very talented back,” Texans defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver said. “He’s built low to the ground, but he runs tough … and he’s very good out of the backfield.
“He presents problems, absolutely. He reminds me a little bit of Darren Sproles. So, it’ll be interesting to see how they go about using him.”
The Texans are keenly aware of Edwards-Helaire’s skills and interviewed him at the NFL scouting combine.
“We studied him a lot,” Texans coach and general manager Bill O’Brien said. “He’s a really good guy, a really dynamic player. Look, he’s a guy that can run it. He can hurt you out of the backfield. We’re just going to have to do as good a job as we can of knowing where he’s at, how they’re trying to use him early on and do as good a job as we can.”
Secondary depth helps after injury
The Texans’ secondary is adapting to the loss of starting cornerback Gareon Conley.
Conley was placed on injured reserve with a lingering ankle injury. Lonnie Johnson Jr. has been preparing to step in and is expected to start Thursday night at Arrowhead Stadium.
The Texans can line up safety Eric Murray at nickel and have third safety A.J. Moore, the dime back, play in the base defense. Cornerback Bradley Roby is capable of lining up inside, as are Vernon Hargreaves and rookie John Reid.
“Any time you lose a starter, it’s something you have to deal with,” Roby said. “You have to be a deep team to go far in the playoffs and get to the Super Bowl, things like that. So, you have to have depth, and I think that’s something that we have here.”
Four are protected on practice squad
The Texans protected four players on their practice squad, including former Seattle Seahawks running back C.J. Prosise.
The Texans also protected center-guard Greg Mancz, safety Jonathan Owens and outside linebacker Davin Bellamy.
Under revised practice squad rules, teams can protect up to four players by Tuesday of each week from being signed by another team until after their next game. The list is subject to change every week.
Under the rules, if a player who has been protected isn’t promoted to the 53-man roster, he can terminate his practice squad contract and sign with another team the day after that game.
If that protected player is promoted to his team’s active roster, he can terminate his contract to sign with any team on the first business day after the game once he reverts to the practice squad.