{"id":28804,"date":"2025-07-22T22:24:18","date_gmt":"2025-07-22T22:24:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=28804"},"modified":"2025-07-22T22:24:18","modified_gmt":"2025-07-22T22:24:18","slug":"breaking-news-chiefs-fans-might-not-be-ready-for-decision-thats-coming-on-veteran-running-back","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=28804","title":{"rendered":"BREAKING NEWS : Chiefs fans might not be ready for decision that’s coming on veteran running back"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"AFC<\/p>\n

Don’t be surprised if the Kansas City Chiefs cut fan-favorite running back, Kareem Hunt at the end of the preseason.<\/p>\n

I can already hear Chiefs fans protesting that sentence. In fact, when I suggested that Hunt might be a surprise cut a few weeks ago on the Arrowhead Addict podcast, I was met with quite a few people calling me an idiot.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was our best running back last year\u201d was the primary argument.<\/p>\n

This is true: Hunt was the Chiefs’ best running back last year. After Isaiah Pacheco went down with an injury, the team briefly turned to fullback and preseason folk hero \u2014 not to mention romance novel cover model \u2014 Carson Steele. Steele performed admirably in a spot start, but ball security issues and a clear lack of speed made it evident he wasn\u2019t a long-term solution to fill in for Hunt.<\/p>\n

*Carson Steele is not actually a romance novel cover model, but he SHOULD be.<\/p>\n

The fact that Hunt was the Chiefs\u2019 best running back last year says more about the state of the depth chart than it does Hunt\u2019s talent.<\/p>\n

That isn\u2019t to say that Hunt was bad last year. He was very effective in spots, particularly in short-yardage situations where he was excellent. Hunt still runs with excellent vision, balance, and surprising strength. He was terrific last season at getting exactly what yardage was available for him to get.<\/p>\n

Hunt\u2019s effectiveness in key spots \u2014 plus a healthy dose of nostalgia \u2014 is likely the reason many Chiefs fans would scoff at the idea that Hunt might not make the team in 2025.<\/p>\n

Kareem Hunt\u2019s return to Chiefs was solid, but not special<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Hunt was one of the best running backs in the NFL early in his career. He was drafted by the Chiefs in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He racked up 1,327 rushing yards and 455 receiving yards to go along with 11 touchdowns as a rookie.<\/p>\n

In 2018, Patrick Mahomes\u2019 first year as the Chiefs\u2019 starter, Hunt was off to an equally good start through 11 games before a nasty off-field incident, in which he was caught pushing down and kicking a woman, led to his release from the Chiefs.<\/p>\n

Hunt served a lengthy suspension for the incident before catching on with his hometown Cleveland Browns as Nick Chubb\u2019s backup. Hunt performed well in Cleveland but never captured his Chiefs glory days.<\/p>\n

Last year, when the Chiefs came calling following Pacheco\u2019s injury, Hunt was not even on an NFL team. He had averaged only three yards per carry in his final season in Cleveland and, at age 28, it looked like his career might be over.<\/p>\n

Chiefs fans were understandably excited when he was brought back to the team, and Hunt rewarded their excitement with solid but unspectacular play. He rushed for 728 yards and was fantastic in the red zone, totaling seven touchdowns.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, it was also clear that Hunt had lost a step. He didn\u2019t have the same burst and speed he did during his first stint in Kansas City, and he averaged only 3.6 yards per carry. He was also no longer much of a threat in the passing game, with only 176 yards on 32 targets.<\/p>\n

The Chiefs\u2019 backfield battle is getting crowded<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Chiefs RB<\/strong><\/th>\nRoster status<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Isiah Pacheco<\/td>\nLock<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kareem Hunt<\/td>\nRoster bubble<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Elijah Mitchell<\/td>\nRB2 potential if healthy<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Brashard Smith<\/td>\nHigh upside draft pick<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Carson Steele<\/td>\nSpecial teams value<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

Pacheco is a slam dunk to make the team. While fans were frustrated with his lack of production late last season, he was returning from a broken fibula sustained in Week 2. It\u2019s possible he still wasn\u2019t right, and if he can return to 2023 form, he will likely be the starter again.<\/p>\n

Mitchell is a tantalizing option that the Chiefs went out of their way to sign in free agency. He showed real juice during his time in San Francisco. It has been injuries, not talent, that have held him back. If he is healthy, at just 27 years old, he could very well make the roster.<\/p>\n

Smith is a seventh-round pick, but so was Pacheco, and the Chiefs have shown they don\u2019t care where a player was taken if he can produce on the field. He has blazing speed and is a former wide receiver, so Andy Reid could be having visions of Brian Westbrook dancing in his head when he thinks of incorporating Smith into his offense.<\/p>\n

Steele got benched last year but is technically a fullback and also contributes on special teams.<\/p>\n

Who would replace Kareem Hunt on Chiefs 53-man roster?<\/h2>\n

It isn\u2019t crazy to see a scenario where there isn\u2019t enough room on the roster for Hunt. Teams as talented as the Chiefs don\u2019t have a lot of roster spots available. Pacheco is a lock to make the team. Mitchell, if healthy, probably will be on the 53 as well.<\/p>\n

Smith was a draft pick, albeit a seventh-rounder, but the Chiefs took him for a reason, and if he shows them anything in camp, it\u2019s possible they\u2019ll pick him over Hunt, given his speed, youth, and upside.<\/p>\n

Hunt\u2019s best function at this point is as a short-yardage specialist. He\u2019ll turn 30 early next month. He doesn\u2019t contribute on special teams. He is a useful but declining asset.<\/p>\n

It will ultimately come down to what the Chiefs value the most and what they think their primary needs are heading into the season.<\/p>\n

If having a dependable short-yardage back is a high priority, then I could see Hunt grabbing a roster spot in favor of Mitchell \u2014 especially if he isn\u2019t healthy \u2014 or Smith, who the team could try to stash on the practice squad. Then again, considering Hunt went unsigned well into last season, the Chiefs may feel like there is a decent chance he will still be available if they need him, while they might not want to expose Smith to being poached from their practice squad.<\/p>\n

If, however, the Chiefs value youth, explosiveness, and special teams ability, then the team could go with Pacheco, Mitchell, Smith, and Steele \u2014 which might leave Hunt out in the cold.<\/p>\n

<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Don’t be surprised if the Kansas City Chiefs cut fan-favorite running back, Kareem Hunt at the end of the preseason. I can already hear Chiefs fans protesting<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":28805,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-28804","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-kansas-city-chiefs"],"yoast_head":"\nBREAKING NEWS : Chiefs fans might not be ready for decision that's coming on veteran running back - Breaking News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=28804\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"BREAKING NEWS : Chiefs fans might not be ready for decision that's coming on veteran running back - Breaking News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Don't be surprised if the Kansas City Chiefs cut fan-favorite running back, Kareem Hunt at the end of the preseason. 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