Team news: Kansas City Chiefs

Chiefs WR Mecole Hardman was limited in practice Wednesday according to Adam Teicher of ESPN.

Related Players: Byron Pringle, Demarcus Robinson

The last thing Hardman needs is an injury to allow Pringle and Robinson the opportunity to get more practice reps and potential game reps. Friday's injury report will be important.

Chiefs’ HC Andy Reid said today that RBs Clyde Edwards-Helaire (ankle) and Darrell Williams (concussion) are expected to play in Sunday’s opener.

Schefter went on to tweet HC Andy Reid said it looked like both backs were moving around pretty good and expects both to be OK and ready to go against the Browns.

The Chiefs used a lot of multiple tight end formations during Reid's early seasons. From 2014 through 2017, they were in the NFL's top 10 every season in number of plays out with three tight end personnel groupings. They led the league in that category in 2016.

But the Chiefs since moved away from those formations as they improved at wide receiver, adding first Tyreek Hill and later Sammy Watkins and Mecole Hardman. They used no three tight end formations in either 2018 or 2019 and though they did use two tight ends on occasion, Travis Kelce was on his own a lot in terms of his position.

That will change this season.

Related players: Blake Bell, Noah Gray, Jody Fortson

The story said the Chiefs may not always use all four TEs at one time, but they have tinkered with it in practice and the preseason, especially close to the goal line. And, they've had success with it, scoring a TD against the Vikings in the preseason. Four TEs on the field would obviously be bad news for Hill owners because it would mean he's not on the field in those situations. Gray could be a player to keep an eye on as he's the team's fifth round pick from this year's NFL Draft.

The Chiefs have waived Darwin Thompson, a source tells The Star.

Related players: Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Jerick McKinnon, Darrel Williams

The Chiefs will run with CEH, McKinnon and Williams as their top-three backs. In the 10 games where CEH played at least 40 snaps (roughly 56% snap share), he averaged 19.1 touches for 97 yards and 0.30 touchdowns per game. That equates to 13.0 fantasy points per game, which are solid RB2 numbers. Le’Veon Bell was enough of a headache to make Edwards-Helaire a shaky start on a weekly basis, but he’s since been released, so CEH’s snap share should rise in his second season.

According to The Athletic, Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Byron Pringle continues to hold the lead for the number three receiver role for the 2021 season.

Pringle has been impressing throughout camp and appears to have passed Demarcus Robinson on the depth chart. Pringle showed flashes last season but did not receive enough playing time to produce on a consistent basis. That figures to change this year as the former UDFA is projected to see starters snaps in one of the most potent offenses in the entire NFL. Pringle is a potential lottery ticket, making him a solid late-round target in all redraft formats. He is currently our 84th ranked wide receiver.

Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill didn’t practice today because of tendonitis in his knee.

After practice, Kansas City head coach Andy Reid said Hill’s tendonitis just appeared today and the team decided not to take any chances with Hill. Reporters on the scene said Hill did have pads on to attend practice but moved to the side of the field for conditioning work, the story said.

Chiefs WR Demarcus Robinson has been removed from the reserve/COVID-19 list and cleared for practice, according to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network.

The addition of Robinson gives Patrick Mahomes his full stable of wide receivers. His removal from the list also gives the wideout a day to practice prior to Sunday's game, a concern when he was originally placed on the list.