Chiefs’ Edwards-Helaire, Fortson remain on IR. What Reid said of chances they’ll return

The Chiefs continue to monitor running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire (ankle) and tight end Jody Fortson (elbow) while both players attempt to return from the reserve/injured list.

Edwards-Helaire and Fortson practiced Wednesday, eight days after the Chiefs designated the duo as “return to practice.” That designation opened a 21-day evaluation window in which the team will decide whether to activate either or both players (or possibly neither) from injured reserve.

Whether the duo shows enough progress to become available in time for Sunday’s AFC Championship Game against the Cincinnati Bengals at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium remains to be seen.

“There’s a chance either one, but maybe more Fortson than Clyde,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “We’ll see how it goes this week.”

Of the two, Fortson likely makes more sense to bring back sooner than later.

Fortson suffered the elbow injury in Week 15 and landed on injured reserve for the final three regular-season games. His potential return would provide additional depth at tight end behind Travis Kelce, Noah Gray and Blake Bell, and give the offense flexibility to deploy sets with four tight ends.

Edwards-Helaire suffered a high-ankle sprain in Week 11 before the Chiefs placed him on injured reserve. He hasn’t played since.

The Chiefs don’t need to rush back Edwards-Helaire because they have depth at the running back position with rookie Isiah Pacheco, Ronald Jones and Jerick McKinnon on the active 53-player roster. Veteran Melvin Gordon is on the Chiefs’ practice squad.

Pacheco supplanted Edwards as the Chiefs’ starting running back in Week 7.

The Chiefs have an empty spot on their 53-player roster after waiving cornerback Chris Lammons earlier in the week.