Chiefs activate RB Edwards-helaire

The Kansas City Chiefs activated running back Clyde Edwards-helaire from injured reserve Monday and placed wide receiver Mecole Hardman on the list for the second time as they finalize their roster for the Super Bowl.

Edwards-helaire, a 2020 first-round pick, has been out since sustaining a high ankle sprain during a win over the Chargers on Nov. 20. He was designated to return on Jan. 17, opening a three-week window in which he could be activated.

Edwards-helaire started the first six games of the season before ceding time to seventh-round pick Isiah Pacheco, who has become one of the Chiefs’ breakout stars. Edwards-helaire has run 71 times for 302 yards and three touchdowns and caught 17 passes for 151 yards and three more scores this season.

The emergence of Pacheco, along with veteran Jerick Mckinnon, took pressure off the Chiefs to activate Edwards-helaire before he was ready. Pacheco ran for 830 yards and five TDS during the regular season along with 121 combined rushing yards in playoff wins over Jacksonville and Cincinnati, while Mckinnon scored 10 combined touchdowns in the regular season.

College basketball:

Minnesota’s road game against Illinois that was scheduled for Tuesday was postponed because of COVID-19 health and safety protocols within the Gophers’ program.

NBA: Suns president and CEO Jason Rowley, whom some employees placed at the center of allegations of verbal abuse, retaliation and intimidation in the workplace, resigned, ESPN reported.

Skiing: American Mikaela Shiffrin failed to finish the slalom portion of the women’s combined event on the opening day of the world championships in Meribel, France. Shiffrin straddled the third-to-last gate while appearing to be close to beating first-run leader Federica Brignone.