It’s still early, but Kansas City Chiefs running back Carson Steele is making a name for himself in training camp. The undrafted free agent had a great preseason debut, making the most of his limited opportunities by recording 29 yards and a touchdown on four carries. The UCLA product looked like an NFL-caliber talent, and recent reports indicate that he’s climbing up the depth chart. According to Jessee Newell, the Chiefs are giving him “a long look” with the first- and second-team offense, implying that he could start the season as Kansas City’s RB2 ahead of former first-round pick Clyde Edwards-Helaire.
Chiefs rookie RB Carson Steele had his most reps with the 1s and 2s today out of all the days at camp. Chiefs giving him a long look after his standout game Saturday. OC Matt Nagy today: "What I like about him is, right now, he's doing a lot of good things and being in the right…
— Jesse Newell (@jessenewell) August 13, 2024
Carson Steele Receiving First-Team Reps For Chiefs, Could Beat Out Clyde Edwards-Helaire
Isaiah Pacheco is the unquestioned starter in Kansas City’s backfield, but the RB2 position is up for grabs. Entering the offseason, Clyde Edwards-Helaire was the safe bet to land this job. While the first-round pick never came close to justifying his selection, the LSU product had the most familiarity with the offense and had no real competition. Kansas City didn’t select a running back during the 2024 NFL Draft and only added journeyman veterans to fill out the bottom of the roster. However, Carson Steele is proving that he can overtake the two-time Super Bowl champion and provide more of a physical presence in the running game.
Weighing in at 6′-0″ and 228 pounds, Carson Steele is more of a fullback than a traditional early-down runner. While the preseason action indicates he could handle regular carries, he will have a similar physical running style to Pacheco. In many ways, this makes him the ideal backup with Edwards-Helaire can see snaps on passing downs and as a change of pace back. These three could combine to form Kansas City’s backfield as the team chases their third title in as many seasons.
Main Photo: Corey Perrine – USA Today Sports
