Carson Steele was one of the most exciting rookies in the league at this point last year, and his strong preseason performance earned him a spot on the 53-man roster. When Isiah Pacheco suffered his injury, the undrafted free agent had the opportunity to establish himself as a legitimate weapon in the NFL. Unfortunately, he couldn’t play up to expectations, finishing the season with just 56 carries for 183 yards (3.3 yards per attempt) and no touchdowns.
With Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco returning and complemented by Elijah Mitchell and rookie Brashard Smith, Carson Steele had an uphill battle to make the 53-man roster in 2025. Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport predicts Kansas City will part ways with the former fan favorite, and it’s easy to see why.
“When injuries hit Kansas City’s running backs last year, he actually made three starts,” Davenport writes. “And therein lies the rub. Steele just wasn’t good when the opportunity arose…And with zero chance Kansas City enters the season with five running backs on the active roster, Steele’s best case if he wants to remain with the Chiefs is probably the practice squad.”
Jul 22, 2025; St. Joseph, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs running back Elijah Mitchell (25) and running back Carson Steele (42) and tight end Jared Wiley (12) on field during training camp at Missouri Western State University. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
Bleacher Report: Chiefs Expected to Cut Carson Steele
As Davenport mentions above, Steele could land with the team’s practice squad, but that will only happen if none of the other 31 teams find him worthy of a roster spot. While that is possible, it doesn’t appear too likely. After all, he was an undrafted free agent last year and, outside of last year’s preseason, he hasn’t done anything to make teams regret not drafting him. Perhaps some time on the sidelines would be the best thing for Steele.
Main Photo: Joe Camporeale – Imagn Images
