Chiefs News: Kareem Hunt finding redemption in return

In a season of narratives about how the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs have struggled on offense (regardless of being the NFL’s solely undefeated staff), there was one particular constructive growth.

Years after a well-documented incident noticed Kansas Metropolis waive him in his second season, veteran working again Kareem Hunt has returned to the staff with a vengeance. Over three video games, the staff’s 2017 third-round choose has delivered 249 hard-fought yards and three touchdowns.

Hunt’s presence has made the absence of starter Isiah Pacheco — misplaced to a damaged fibula in Week 2 — hardly noticeable. He has additionally helped masks among the Chiefs’ inefficiencies on offense. The staff’s media conferences earlier than working towards this week have made it clear Hunt’s efforts will not be going unnoticed.

Head coach Andy Reid praised Hunt for retaining himself prepared whereas nonetheless on the lookout for a staff into the season — and dealing to alter the narrative from the sooner incident.

“It was necessary for himself to come back in and do properly,” Reid defined. “[Hunt] had stayed in form — which I believe was necessary — and he’s been in a position to contribute and assist us preserve transferring ahead. I believe everyone appreciates that half, however I believe most of all, he was on a mission to make it proper. So, my hat goes off to the child for that.”

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes appreciates the yards Hunt is churning out however famous an underappreciated side of his previous and current teammate’s contribution.

“I believe he’s simply executed an awesome job of getting what’s there after which making performs every time his quantity is known as,” mentioned Mahomes. It looks like each single time he’s falling ahead, [he’s] getting 5 yards, six yards, no matter it’s. That makes my job simpler on the quarterback place and the offense basically once you’re in these advantageous conditions in down and distances.

“So, Kareem has executed an awesome job. He’s executed an awesome job not solely working the ball [and] catching the ball, [but] he’s executed an awesome job in go safety.”

Hunt momentarily brought about alarm on Wednesday by exhibiting up as Restricted on the staff’s damage report with a hip subject. On Thursday, offensive coordinator Matt Nagy advised why the staff might have been affected person with the bruising again to begin the week.

Nagy additionally recognized what he notices about what Hunt has introduced (again) to the Chiefs.

“Physicality, not dropping yards, [and] mentality of ‘simply give me the ball,’” the coach said. “You set that tape on and watch him get hit. I can’t think about what he looks like on a Monday. It can not really feel excellent, however it’s a sacrifice he does for this staff. He’s loving it. We’re loving handing him the ball. The offensive line is obstructing their tail off with the tight ends. It’s a very good factor for the offense proper now, and I really like Kareem.”

Pacheco reportedly is again within the staff facility. Mahomes hopes that Hunt will quickly have purpose to be much less sore on Mondays.

“I believe as we begin getting increasingly more guys again and more healthy,” the league’s greatest star predicted, “he won’t must have 30 carries, or no matter it’s, however every time he will get his alternative, he’s going to go on the market and make it depend.”

Reid is pleased with the efficiency of all the room in Pacheco’s absence — and is aware of that much more assist could also be on the way in which.

“We had Pop [Pacheco] earlier than that,” he recalled, “after which the fellows that stepped in for Pop did a pleasant job and rotated with it. [Hunt] is only a totally different fashion. All of them are literally totally different, however he’s received that pound in at you fashion, and that’s helped us.

“We lose an awesome participant like we did with Pacheco, and these different guys step up — and Kareem come off the road and helps us out. That’s nice. We nonetheless have [Clyde Edwards-Helaire] sitting again there who’s an awesome participant too. So, it’s place to be in from a coach’s standpoint.”

In Hunt’s solely full season with the Chiefs as a rookie in 2017, he led the league in speeding. Nagy is seeing flashes of the previous which will make it tough to take Hunt off the sector, no matter what different backs could also be out there.

“I do know he does what we would like him to do,” remarked Nagy. “I used to be right here with him in ‘17, and he jogs my memory lots of that very same participant. We love the place he’s at. He’s bodily. Often once we ask him to get three, he will get us 4 — and once we requested him to get 4, he will get us 5.”