Chiefs ‘Puzzled’ By Run-Game Struggles
Although Patrick Mahomes only gained two rushing yards in the Chiefs’ win over the Giants, the two-time MVP still leads all quarterbacks in this area — with 125 — entering Week 4. Lamar Jackson and Jalen Hurts have 118 and 117, respectively.
This is more an indictment to the state of Kansas City’s offense than a credit to Mahomes’ deceptive run-game abilities. Long preferring to be a pocket passer and a historically gifted improviser, Mahomes had needed to shoulder a much bigger rushing workload. The Chiefs have both struggled, Tyquan Thornton‘s Sunday-night contributions notwithstanding, to find aerial consistency and success on the ground.
[RELATED: Examining The Misses Leading To Chiefs’ Offensive Decline]
While the Rashee Rice suspension and Xavier Worthy labrum tear were going to create challenges for the Chiefs in passing game, their backfield is fully staffed. Kansas City has Isiah Pacheco recovered from the fractured fibula he suffered last September, and the team re-signed Kareem Hunt. Neither has cleared 100 rushing yards through three games, with Pacheco sitting at 92 and Hunt at 81. The Chiefs have expected more from their ground attack, per ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano, who indicates the team is “puzzled” by its lack of success here.
The Chiefs had seen promising signs from Pacheco in training camp and expected a return to form, Graziano adds, but the contract-year player has not done so. Pacheco and Hunt are averaging 3.7 and 3.5 yards per carry, respectively, despite the team employing All-Pro center Creed Humphrey and Pro Bowl right guard Trey Smith.
Humphrey is the NFL’s highest-paid center, while Smith sits second among guards after his July extension. The Chiefs traded All-Pro left guard Joe Thuney to the Bears, making room for Smith’s payday, and has whiffed on the four-year, $80MM deal given to high-end free agent-turned-penalty maven Jawaan Taylor at right tackle. The team, though, has seen positive early returns from first-round LT Josh Simmons. The team has a fourth high-priced O-linemen — free agency addition Jaylon Moore (two years, $30MM) — but has parked him as a backup early. Yet, its rushing attack has not shown much beyond Mahomes scrambles.
A former seventh-round pick, Pacheco helped bail out the Chiefs on their Clyde Edwards-Helaire miss by taking over as the starter during his 2022 rookie season. He totaled 830 rushing yards (4.9 per carry) that year and 935 (4.6) in 2023. The hard-running ballcarrier did return from his broken leg in-season last year, making it back before December, but did not flash the same form. The Chiefs effectively let it be known they were awaiting more from Pacheco before extension talks commenced. Unsurprisingly, nothing has emerged on that front.
Seventh-round rookie Brashard Smith is in place as a third-stringer, and Graziano adds the team views him as a potential weapon in the passing game. As far as traditional run options go, Pacheco and a declining Hunt represent the three-time reigning AFC champions’ lead options.
The Chiefs were connected to a potential trade for a running back in late August, but nothing transpired. (The team then re-signed Edwards-Helaire, who failed to make the Saints’ 53-man roster.) It would stand to reason that this drought continuing would prompt the team to revisit that pursuit ahead of the November 5 trade deadline.
In other Chiefs skill-position news, Rice can return to their facility this week. The suspended wide receiver will be able to attend meetings, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, though he cannot practice until the ban wraps after Week 6. Rice will be unable to attend practice as an observer, CBS Sports’ Joel Corry adds.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/20/25
Here are today’s minor moves and Week 3’s standard gameday practice squad elevations:
Arizona Cardinals
- Elevated: T Jake Curhan, DE Anthony Goodlow
Carolina Panthers
- Elevated: G Brandon Walton
Chicago Bears
- Signed from practice squad: DE Tanoh Kpassagnon
- Elevated: CB Dallis Flowers, LB Carl Jones
- Placed on IR: T Kiran Amegadjie, CB Jaylon Johnson (story)
Cleveland Browns
- Elevated: WR Kaden Davis, CB Dom Jones
Green Bay Packers
- Placed on IR: WR Jayden Reed (story)
Houston Texans
- Signed from practice squad: FB Jakob Johnson
- Elevated: CB Myles Bryant, CB D’Angelo Ross
- Placed on IR: CB Jaylin Smith
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Elevated: TE Quintin Morris
Kansas City Chiefs
- Elevated: CB Kevin Knowles
Las Vegas Raiders
- Elevated: WR Alex Bachman, CB Greedy Vance
Los Angeles Chargers
- Elevated: LB Emany Johnson
Minnesota Vikings
- Elevated: RB Cam Akers, G Henry Byrd
New England Patriots
- Elevated: CB Kobee Minor, LB Mark Robinson
New Orleans Saints
- Signed from practice squad: WR Kevin Austin
- Elevated: DE Fadil Diggs, TE Treyton Welch
- Waived: TE Moliki Matavao
New York Giants
- Signed from practice squad: OLB Tomon Fox
- Elevated: DT Elijah Garcia, LB Neville Hewitt
- Waived: WR Xavier Gipson
New York Jets
- Elevated: S Dean Clark, QB Brady Cook
Philadelphia Eagles
- Elevated: S Marcus Epps, TE Cameron Latu
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Elevated: RB Trey Sermon
- Placed on IR: G Max Scharping (story)
San Francisco 49ers
- Elevated: QB Adrian Martinez, WR Malik Turner
- Placed on IR: OL Spencer Burford
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed from practice squad: S Jerrick Reed II
- Elevated: S D’Anthony Bell, RB Jacardia Wright
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Elevated: T Tyler McLellan
Washington Commanders
- Elevated: CB Antonio Hamilton
- Released from reserve/retired list: OL Nate Herbig
There were some eyes on whether or not the Browns would add a kicker for the weekend after Andre Szmyt needed to undergo some MRI testing, but no such moves were made and Szmyt heads into the weekend without an injury designation. The team did report a workout with veteran kicker Matthew Wright, though, per Howard Balzer of CardsWire.
The 49ers will lose some additional offensive line depth as they place their intended swing tackle, Burford, on injured reserve. Additionally, with Martinez not getting signed to the active roster, it appears that injured starter Brock Purdy will not be active as an emergency option, as was rumored a bit yesterday. Purdy should be inactive as a result.
Herbig announced his retirement at the end of July after spending a good portion of the offseason with the Commanders. The 27-year-old was coming off a 2024 season in which he missed the entirety of the year with a shoulder injury. Washington’s release of Herbig from the reserve/retired list gives him an opportunity to sign with a new team as a free agent. There’s no guarantee that he’s headed anywhere specific, but he likely initiated the transaction in order to explore his options.
Chiefs Rule Out WR Xavier Worthy For Week 3
The Chiefs have ruled out second-year wide receiver Xavier Worthy for their Week 3 matchup with the Giants, per a team announcement.
Worthy was knocked out of the game in Week 1 in a collision with teammate Travis Kelce. The injury, later diagnosed as a labrum tear, sidelined Worthy for Week 2, but the Chiefs expressed optimism about his Week 3 status last Sunday. He was considered “50-50” on Friday, but did not make enough progress to play against the Giants.
Worthy’s absence will once again place a significant burden on Kansas City’s other pass-catchers. The Chiefs offense has been middling in an 0-2 start, but it should have a bounce-back opportunity in New York on Sunday night. The Giants have allowed 910 yards this year, the most in the NFL through two games, including 555 yards through the air.
That should allow Marquise Brown and Travis Kelce, the Chiefs’ leading receivers, to thrive in some winnable matchups. JuJu Smith-Schuster was reliable in Week 2, catching all five of his targets for 55 yards, while Tyquan Thornton has emerged as a deep threat with 25.0 yards per catch. As a result, Sunday night should be less of a concern for the Chiefs, and holding Worthy out might be a wise move to preserve his long-term healthy, especially since he’s elected not to undergo surgery.
However, the Chiefs will be hoping that Worthy can get back on the field for tough upcoming matchup’s with two Super Bowl contenders in the Ravens and the Lions in the next three weeks. Rashee Rice will not return from his suspension until Week 7, so Worthy’s availability for those games will be crucial for Kansas City’s success.
AFC Injury Updates: Stewart, Worthy, Szmyt
Despite missing most of his first offseason because of a contract dispute, Bengals defensive end Shemar Stewart has impressed with his early contributions in the first weeks of the season. Unfortunately, despite his hard work to be ready to contribute early, Stewart could be looking at a multi-week absence, according to what he told Kelsey Conway of The Cincinnati Enquirer.
Per The Enquirer, Stewart is “dealing with a low ankle sprain and could be out a few weeks.” The first-round pick out of Texas A&M was just outpaced by starter Joseph Ossai across from Trey Hendrickson in Week 1, but Week 2 saw Stewart earn his first start and continue to work a strong snap share before getting sidelined with an injury in the fourth quarter. Now Myles Murphy will have to step up for a few games in Stewart’s absence.
While Stewart has been ruled out, cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt is listed as doubtful for this weekend. Taylor-Britt seems to have tweaked a hamstring injury that had held him out for an extended portion of training camp. Cincinnati likely won’t risk anything with something as finicky as a hamstring injury.
Here are a couple other injury updates from across the AFC:
- The Chiefs are desperately hoping to see some reinforcements at wide receiver arrive soon. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, wide receiver Xavier Worthy has been classified as “50-50” to return this weekend for the team’s trip to New York. Worthy was a limited participant in Thursday and Friday practices last week and has ramped up his workload as he attempts overcome an ailing shoulder. He’s still been limited and listed as questionable this week, but there appears to be some optimism that a return could come soon.
- Per Zac Jackson of The Athletic, Browns kicker Andre Szmyt was sent to get an MRI performed today after he “felt something” during practice. No free agent kickers have been called for workouts or signed to the practice squad, though it only occurred earlier today, so it may just have been precautionary. The team’s efforts to bring in other kicking options tomorrow should tell us what we need to know about Szmyt’s health and availability for the weekend.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/16/25
Today’s practice squad moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: CB Keith Taylor
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: LB Malik Hamm
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: WR Kendric Pryor
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: CB Tre Avery, WR Gage Larvadain, T Joshua Miles, T Tyre Phillips
- Released: OT Logan Brown, DT Ralph Holley, CB LaMareon James
Detroit Lions
- Signed: WR Malik Cunningham, TE Ross Dwelley
- Released: LB Monty Rice
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: C Jimmy Morrissey
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: LB Cole Christiansen
New York Giants
- Signed: WR Dalen Cambre, LB Neville Hewitt, LB Curtis Jacobs
- Released: TE Qadir Ismail, DB Patrick McMorris
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: WR Isaiah Hodgins
Washington Commanders
- Signed: G Tyler Cooper, WR Tay Martin
- Placed on IR: G Darrian Dalcourt
The Steelers added a notable wide receiver to their taxi squad in Isaiah Hodgins. The wideout bounced between the Giants practice squad and active roster in 2024, but he’s not far removed from a stretch between 2022 and 2023 when he hauled in 58 catches for 622 yards and seven touchdowns. He’ll be joining a group of practice squad WRs that includes Rakim Jarrett and rookie Ke’Shawn Williams.
Speaking of the Giants, they added a veteran linebacker in Neville Hewitt. The 32-year-old has appeared in 146 games in time with the Dolphins, Jets, and Texans. His best season came with New York in 2020, when he compiled 134 tackles and a pair of sacks. He mostly saw a special teams role while in Houston, but he rebounded in 2024, tallying 59 tackles and a pair of forced fumbles in 17 games (four starts).
Chiefs’ Xavier Worthy Dealing With Torn Labrum, Likely To Play In Week 3
Ruled out for Week 2 because of the friendly-fire shot he absorbed from teammate Travis Kelce on a crossing pattern in Brazil, Xavier Worthy is not expected to be out long for the Chiefs. The speedy second-year player may end up missing only one game.
Specifics on Worthy’s injury had not surfaced until Sunday, but NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports the Kansas City wideout is battling a fully torn labrum. Rather than undergo surgery, Worthy will attempt to play through the injury by using a harness.
Earlier this week, Andy Reid said Worthy was unlikely to land on IR. While the Chiefs are holding him out for their Week 2 matchup with the Eagles, they are aiming to have him against the Giants next week. Using a harness to navigate a labrum tear is not unheard of, but a player of Worthy’s size (165 pounds) attempting to do so will make for a more interesting effort.
This does represent positive news for the Chiefs, as a Worthy surgery would have left them in dire straits at receiver. The three-time reigning AFC champions are without Rashee Rice due to a six-game suspension. They will roll out a receiving group headlined by Marquise Brown today, with JuJu Smith-Schuster — re-signed to just a one-year, $1.42MM deal this offseason — likely set to play a key role.
Kansas City has been unable to keep its preferred receiving trio healthy since assembling the pieces last year. During the 2024 preseason, Brown went down with a shoulder injury that did require surgery. Weeks later, Rice suffered an LCL tear that sidelined him for the season’s remainder. Rice has since recovered but is out of the mix due to a suspension in connection with a hit-and-run accident that brought eight felony charges. Brown worked as Patrick Mahomes‘ top target in Week 1, catching 10 passes (on a whopping 16 targets) for 99 yards against the Chargers.
The Chiefs have steadily seen Mahomes fall off the stratospheric pace he set during his early seasons as their starter. Their receiver plan, Travis Kelce‘s presence notwithstanding, has undoubtedly contributed to the soon-to-be 30-year-old passer’s production dip. Kelce’s dominant 2022 season helped the Chiefs after their Tyreek Hill trade, but the increasingly popular tight end has been in decline since that Suepr Bowl LVII-winning season. That component has amplified the issues the Chiefs have run into post-Hill.
Rumors about a Hill-Chiefs reunion appear premature, with the Dolphins holding off on any trade talks involving the mercurial standout. The Chiefs are also focusing on having Worthy healthy and paired with Rice (come late October) rather than reacquiring the star they developed, per The Athletic’s Dianna Russini.
While Mahomes remains one of the NFL’s best players, the Chiefs have ranked 15th in scoring offense in each of the past two years. They have increasingly relied on Steve Spagnuolo‘s defense for protection against running into shootout game scripts, but that unit struggled against the Chargers. The Eagles will present a challenge as well, but the team will hope to begin reassembling its receiving corps soon after this Super Bowl LIX rematch.
Steelers, Chiefs ‘Eyeing’ Tyreek Hill?
SEPTEMBER 13: Dianna Russini of The Athletic confirms (subscription required) the Dolphins are not actively looking to trade Hill, adding calls have yet to be made on the subject. In the event Miami continues to struggle, however, interest could pick up before the trade deadline.
SEPTEMBER 11: Trade rumors followed Tyreek Hill throughout the offseason, and the Dolphins’ 33-8 drubbing at the hands of the Colts has only intensified speculation that the veteran wide receiver could be on his way out of Miami.
The Steelers and the Chiefs are both “eyeing” Hill after Week 1, according to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio (via the Rich Eisen Show).
Kansas City has a clear need at wide receiver following Xavier Worthy‘s injury and Rashee Rice‘s suspension. Hill would especially help a Chiefs downfield passing game that has stagnated since he left the team in 2022.
The Steelers, meanwhile, could continue their apparent all-in push for the 2025 season by pairing Hill with D.K. Metcalf to give Aaron Rodgers one of the top receiver duos in the NFL. Pittsburgh did have Calvin Austin emerge as a potential WR2 in Week 1 with a 4-70-1 statline, but Hill’s All-Pro pedigree and track record of high-end production would still be an upgrade.
Hill is due $36MM in nonguaranteed compensation in 2026 with a $51.9MM cap hit, per OverTheCap, making it unlikely that he stays in Miami past this year. His contract could be a major obstacle to an offseason trade, so the Dolphins might try to move on early to get a better return. Hill is due $11.8MM this season, which is now down to $11.1MM after Week 1 and will drop by an additional $694K per week.
However, the potential for a suspension resulting from recent domestic violence allegations will likely delay any trade inquiries until after the league completes a potential investigation. Until there is some clarity on the situation, other teams won’t want to move draft capital for a rental with an uncertain outlook for the rest of the season. Florio said the accusations against Hill are “a massive complication that wasn’t there when the chatter began.”
Indeed, the Dolphins have received “zero” calls regarding Hill, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, nor is the team currently looking to move him.
Were that to change, trade compensation would still need to be negotiated. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer believes the Dolphins would want “something in the range of a third-round pick and maybe a Day 2 pick on top of that,” while Florio referenced the 2025 deal that sent Davante Adams from the Raiders to the Jets in exchange for a third-round pick. The Steelers also gave up a second-round pick for Metcalf earlier this year, offering another framework for a potential Hill trade.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/12/25
Here is today’s only minor transaction:
Kansas City Chiefs
- Waived (with injury settlement): DT BJ Thompson
A 2023 fifth-round pick, the Stephen F. Austin product has only appeared in one game, the final contest of his rookie season. During a team meeting last summer, Thompson suffered a seizure that resulted in cardiac arrest for more than 90 seconds. He regained consciousness a few days later. Ever since, the Chiefs have played it very safe when it comes to his playing future. He spent the summer on the active/non-football injury list and was not activated in time for the final roster cut deadline.
Chiefs Not Expected To Place WR Xavier Worthy On IR
A collision with Travis Kelce during the Chiefs’ season opener resulted in a dislocated shoulder for Xavier Worthy. It remains unclear how long the second-year wideout will be unavailable, but a positive update emerged on Wednesday.
Head coach Andy Reid said (via The Athletic’s Jesse Newell) surgery is not being considered at this point. The same is also true of a stint on injured reserve. Provided the Chiefs do not place Worthy on IR, he will remain eligible to return to the lineup at any time (as opposed to a four-game absence being mandated by an IR move).
Reid noted Worthy’s rehab is ongoing, and yesterday he referred to the 2024 first-rounder as “day-to-day.” Missed time in Week 2 could certainly still be in store as a result, but if no surgery is to take place a return to action relatively soon is likely expected. Worthy’s presence is of course particularly valuable early in the campaign while fellow wideout Rashee Rice serves his six-game suspension.
Late in his rookie campaign, Worthy emerged as a key figure in Kansas City’s passing game. Expectations were high entering 2025 as a result, and losing the Texas product early in Week 1 dealt a blow to the team’s offense. Marquise Brown will be counted on to operate as a vertical threat moving forward, and ESPN’s Dan Graziano notes Tyquan Thornton will be tasked with taking on Worthy’s role in the starting lineup if necessary. The former Patriots draftee enjoyed a strong training camp and as a pending restricted free agent, he could help his value with at least a short stint on the first-team offense.
Given this latest Worthy update, though, a lengthy period on the sidelines appears unlikely. The Chiefs will take on the Eagles in a Super Bowl rematch during Week 2, and the coming days will offer clarity on whether or not Worthy will be available.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/10/25
Wednesday’s taxi squad transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: LB Channing Tindall
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: DT Phidarian Mathis
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: DE K.J. Henry
Houston Texans
- Signed: T Jaylon Thomas
Kansas City Chiefs
- Released: LB Cole Christiansen
Los Angeles Chargers
- Released from practice squad/injured list (with injury settlement): WR Jalen Reagor
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: DT Jacob Sykes
- Released: CB Eli Ricks
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: QB Logan Woodside
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: TE Messiah Swinson
Washington Commanders
- Signed: P Mitch Wishnowsky
- Released: TE Lawrence Cager
With regular punter Tress Way in danger of missing this week’s Thursday Night matchup in Green Bay with a back injury, Washington has signed the former 49ers veteran as insurance.