Andy Reid says Chiefs will take Le’Veon Bell’s usage ‘day by day’

The Kansas City Chiefs officially announced their midseason splash free-agent signing on Saturday: two-time first-team All-Pro running back Le’Veon Bell had been added to the team.

But because of the league’s COVID protocols, Bell could not join the Chiefs for their game in Buffalo Monday against the Bills. After what we can presume to be five days of negative tests, however, Bell is practicing with the team this week, leading into Kansas City’s AFC West game against the Denver Broncos on Sunday.

Bell comes to the Chiefs having carrying the ball 19 times for 74 yards and catching three passes for 39 yards in two games with the New York Jets this season.

“We’ll take it day by day — just see how he does and what he’s comfortable with,” Reid explained during his media availability on Wednesday. “One thing you try not to forget is how much volume you have at this point of the year, and so really you just got to have good communication between us — coach and player.”

Grasping Reid’s complex playbook and terminology enough to play is already a tall task for those who have been members of the team since the preseason — and have already been through six game plans.

Asking for someone to be ready to perform in three days’ time might be a different story.

“He’ll get in here, he’ll practice and we’ll see how it goes,” added Reid.

The Chiefs carried the ball a combined 46 times against the Bills for a total of 245 rushing yards — and in the process, showed the league that they can win in a fresh, new way.

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In the forever cycle that is NFL adjustment-making, that could begin to open things up through the air moving forward.

“Every week’s going to be different,” Reid noted. “You play these different teams and they have different ways of going back their business against you — but they have that flexibility, I think is maybe the most important thing and have players that can do those things, I think are important. Clyde, my hat goes off to him — he was phenomenal. And it doesn’t hurt to have a running mate or two.”

Edwards-Helaire led the Chiefs with 26 carries for 161 yards, Darrel Williams had six for 26 and the touchdown — and Darwin Thompson even had three for 17. The team’s 40-plus carries on the afternoon would lead you to believe that even with the addition of Bell, there will be enough football to make its way around an even deeper room.

“We’re lucky to have a nice group of running backs now. Different flavors isn’t bad to throw at a defense, and I think when you see Le’Veon, you’re going to see how big he is. He’s a big man. And so, that’s a different flavor than maybe what we have at the other spots.

“Somewhere, they are all going to play. That’s just how it goes. Clyde sure had a nice day, and he’s had a great year. [Welcoming] in another helping hand doesn’t hurt at all.”