The 3-0 document doesn’t absolutely mirror the challenges the Kansas City Chiefs needed to overcome early in the 2024 NFL season. If something, it speaks volumes concerning the successful tradition Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes have constructed at Arrowhead.
The Chiefs needed to beat the likes of Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, and Atlanta Falcons in consecutive weeks to be at this place. On prime of that, they'd to take action with out key gamers on account of harm.
After shedding Hollywood Brown for the beginning of the 2024 NFL season on account of a sternoclavicular joint dislocation in preseason, the Chiefs positioned Isiah Pacheco on injured reserve on account of a fractured fibula sustained in Week 2.
Reid, nevertheless, appears optimistic about Pacheco’s alternative. Rookie fullback Carson Steele stepped up because the beginning working again on Sunday night time, and his efficiency appeared to impress the coach. Speaking to the press this week, Reid hinted that Steele might show to be a invaluable asset for Mahomes.
Carson Steele #42 of the Kansas City Chiefs runs the ball in the course of the first quarter in opposition to the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on September 22, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia.
“For his first game, I thought he did a real nice job. He’s got to fix a couple of things on protection, but he’ll take care of that,” Reid mentioned of Steele, by way of Arrowhead Pride. “In the run game, he was hitting the right holes and working the daylight. He was finishing runs. We corrected the trying to elbow guys while going through with his carry hand and cleaned that up from the week before. He gives you an honest down, and he’s going to run hard. He’s a big kid. He’s going to come at you.”
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Steele agrees with Reid’s assessment on first Chiefs begin
After going undrafted this yr, Steele found himself with none aside from the two-time defending Super Bowl champions. Against all odds, the UCLA product ended up making the 53-man roster. And Pacheco’s harm permits him to take pleasure in an excellent greater function.
On Sunday, Steele was the go-to participant for Mahomes in the working sport, main the Chiefs in carries (17) and dashing yards (72) in the 22-17 win over the Falcons. After the sport, the 21-year-old admitted that he felt the elevated workload.
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“Yeah, [I was] a little beat up,” Steele said, though he clarified, “I’m not going to lie, but college kind of prepared me for that, having those 28 to 30 carry games. So, [I’m] just taking care of my body — really getting some treatment and being able to be ready for next week.”
Steele knows he still has work to do, but he’s aware that his first start was quite positive: “We went back and watched the tape, [and saw] a few things we can fix — stuff like that. You’re always going to have mistakes in a game. But overall, we were pushing the ball down the field and all the running backs were rotating in. Me and Perine were getting at it. So, [we’re] very excited and have just got to keep going and learning from there.”
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With Pacheco on injured reserve, Steele is anticipated to proceed being a key weapon for Mahomes in the working sport. The RB room, nevertheless, now additionally counts on Kareem Hunt, who returned to Kansas City after 5 seasons in Cleveland.
