How the Kansas City Chiefs will use their running backs with Edwards-Helaire on IR

Four days before his career recognizes a moment he says he’s worked his entire life to achieve, Chiefs running back Darrel Williams thought back to the way it started. Or, rather, the way it didn’t start.

With his parents alongside, Williams watched the 2018 NFL Draft, expecting to hear his name. But 256 selections later, his phone remained silent.

His mom wept that day. First time he’d seen her cry, he says.

“I kind of took that to heart,” Williams said. “Now I have this opportunity. I just gotta make the most of it — just for her.”

Four years later, he’s not only surviving in the NFL, but he’s in line to take over a starting role. Chiefs coach Andy Reid won’t outright say it, but all indications are Williams will receive his first career NFL regular season start Sunday when the team travels to the nation’s capital to face the Washington Football Team.

Starter Clyde Edwards-Helaire landed on injured reserve this week with a knee injury he suffered last week against the Bills. Williams occupies the No. 2 spot on the depth chart. No. 2 shall become No. 1.

It’s sure been a long time coming. Undrafted out of Louisiana State, Williams signed with the Chiefs as a free agent in 2018, then sat buried on a depth chart behind Kareem Hunt, Spencer Ware and Damien Williams. He’d never doubted his ability to play in the league, even after its 32 teams passed on him time and time again on that draft weekend.

Still, it’s a moment yet to leave his memory.

“I wanted to play in this league — that’s always been my goal,” Williams said. “That was an extra push to help me get to where I wanted to go.”

Williams has rushed for 99 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 26 carries this season, occupying many short-yardage sets and passing downs. For his career, he has 453 rushing yards, 355 receiving yards and eight total touchdowns.

His best work actually arrived last postseason under similar circumstances. After an Edwards-Helaire injury, he totaled 155 yards and a touchdown in playoff wins against the Browns and Bills.

Williams figures to see a heavy load Sunday as opponents continue to play soft coverages and practically dare the Chiefs to run the football. But the Chiefs will remain tight-lipped about how they plan to split the backfield role while Edwards-Helaire is out for a minimum of three weeks.

Even as the starter for five games, Edwards-Helaire still played just 53.4% of the Chiefs’ snaps.

Which means Jerick McKinnon, a veteran back but newcomer to Kansas City this season, should also be in line for increased time. The Chiefs have signed Derrick Gore from their practice squad, as well.

“We’ve got (Williams) and (McKinnon). They’re good players,” Reid said. “We can put Gore up too — he was productive during the preseason, so we have the possibility of doing that. But we have trust in the other two guys, in particular Darrel. He’s been productive for us for a number of years here.”