Which Kansas City Chiefs RBs will make the roster? Here’s what recent clues tell us

The Kansas City Chiefs have at least one thing solidified at the running back position heading into Thursday’s preseason finale against the Chicago Bears:

RB1 is set.

Isiah Pacheco is the team’s unquestioned top back, and he also spent his offseason working to improve his hands to take on a more significant role in the passing game.

Behind him, however? The Chiefs remain somewhat unsettled, just 15 days away from their season opener.

Will they keep three running backs or four on their initial roster? And which guys remain in the mix?

Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy didn’t directly answer those questions while speaking to reporters Tuesday, but his responses did give a glimpse into which direction KC’s coaches might be leaning.

Start with this: Veteran Clyde Edwards-Helaire seems secure in his roster spot despite a difficult training camp. Earlier this month, Edwards-Helaire shared that he has PTSD, with the condition forcing him to miss almost half of the Chiefs’ camp practices.

Nagy said Tuesday, however, that the Chiefs “know who Clyde is and what he’s done.”

“He’s a guy that’s put a lot of good film out there. He’s had a lot of valuable snaps here in Kansas City,” Nagy said. “ ... We know what his strengths are, and we know how to use him.”

Edwards-Helaire, in his fifth season, also is one of the most-liked players on the Chiefs’ roster. That was evident following his strong game against New England last year, when tight end Travis Kelce said, “Man, I love that dude,” and coach Andy Reid described the back as “an energy-giver.”

Nagy characterized Edwards-Helaire as both “knowledgeable” and a “leader.”

“I think there’s a calmness to him. He has what he has off the field — we all have our stuff off the field, personally, what you go through. And I think hopefully he feels his coaches and his teammates all have his back in this thing. We’re in this thing together,” Nagy said. “But as a football player, with us in the building, he’s been really good.”

Someone else likely making the 53-man roster: rookie Carson Steele. The UCLA product was a standout in the Chiefs’ first preseason game, then followed that up with extended reps with the first-string offense in Game 2 on Saturday.

The Chiefs tested him in that second outing, asking him to be a pass-protector on third downs and a lead blocker on some run plays. Steele also projects to help on special teams.

“More opportunities — more reps — are going to be valuable for him, and then for us to be able to see where he’s at,” Nagy said. “And again, another great kid. I think back to when I first met him in OTAs, and he’s in there every day in meetings early, he’s in there trying to learn this offense. Now he can go out there and try to play and put it on us to see what he can do.”

If the Chiefs go with a fourth running back, second-year pro Deneric Prince seems to be the likeliest option. The 6-foot, 216-pound back spent most of last season on KC’s practice squad.

Nagy said he was happy to see Prince break loose on a 41-yard sideline run during Saturday’s preseason game against the Lions.

“Man, when he picks his knees up, he’s gone down the sideline,” Nagy said. “He’s tough.”

The roster numbers might not end up in Prince’s favor. KC will likely keep four tight ends, given Reid’s preference to utilize multiple guys there. The receiver position could also take up seven spots, with Hollywood Brown potentially missing early games due to a shoulder injury.

It might make sense for the Chiefs to go lighter at running back then, especially if they believe Prince would be a candidate to make it back to their practice squad.

Nagy said Tuesday that Prince was someone who gave full effort, even if there were “some mistakes here or there — that’s most guys.”

“I remember when he first came in here, he’s such a quiet kid, and he doesn’t say much, but he plays hard every practice,” Nagy said. “He shows up every day.”

Someone who isn’t likely to break camp with the team — at least as of now — is Louis Rees-Zammit.

The 6-2, 209-pound former rugby star has flashed his athleticism during certain early practices, but he remains behind with his understanding of the sport. He’s spent most of his recent time with the offense’s third and fourth teams.

If cut, Rees-Zammit would be subject to waivers, and any of the NFL’s other 31 teams could put in a claim.

“He’s developing every day, and for the positive,” Nagy said of Rees-Zammit. “I love his attitude. It cannot be easy doing what he’s doing, coming from one sport to the next. But he has a great attitude. That’s more than half the battle.”

Rees-Zammit should be someone who sees extensive reps during Thursday’s final preseason game, especially with the Chiefs choosing to rest their starters.

“He’s going to get opportunities,” Nagy said. “And I think, more than anything, is just there needs to be probably a little bit of patience with him.”