Kansas City Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards Helaire is facing an “uphill battle” to play against the Cleveland Browns in the Divisional round on Sunday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
#Chiefs RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire (ankle/hip) is listed as questionable vs the #Browns, but sources say he has an uphill battle to play today. Not practicing on Thursday or Friday was a bad sign. Sounds like it’ll be another week, barring some dramatic improvement.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 17, 2021
ESPN’s Adam Schefter later confirmed that Edwards-Helaire won’t play.
Chiefs’ RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who missed practice time this week with ankle and hip injuries, and is listed as questionable for today, will not play against the Browns, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 17, 2021
CEH is very close to returning and if KC wins today, should be back for AFC Championship Game.
Edwards-Helaire is officially questionable for the game after suffering a high-ankle sprain in the Chiefs’ Week 15 game against the New Orleans Saints.
“[Wednesday] he moved around real well, and then we’ve just kind of backed off him,” head coach Andy Reid said on Friday. “He’s still doing stuff, just not with the group. So, we’ll just see how he does here. We’re literally taking it day by day, so we’ll see how it rolls.”
With Edwards-Helaire doesn’t out, Le’Veon Bell is expected to be the lead back, with Darrel Williams primed for a greater share of carries.
The Chiefs made several roster moves on Saturday, including activating linebacker Dorian O’Daniel from injured reserve and sending Deon Yelder to injured reserve.
Gehrig Dieter and Chris Lammons have been activated from the practice squad via standard elevation.
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) January 16, 2021
Dorian O’Daniel has been activated from injured reserve.
Deon Yelder has been placed on injured reserve.
O’Daniel was last active in late November, when he suffered a high-ankle sprain. The Chiefs also activated tight end Ricky Seals-Jones and used the unlimited elevations for the playoffs rule to call up wide receiver Gehrig Dieter and defensive back Chris Lammons for the game.