Chiefs signing former star Kareem Hunt to practice squad, AP source says

According to a person familiar with the Chiefs’ decision, Kareem Hunt, a running back who originally rose to fame with them before being released due to video of him beating a woman, is joining them on the practice squad.

Since the team had not yet made the transfer official, the individual spoke to the AP on Tuesday under the condition of anonymity.

Isiah Pacheco, the Chiefs’ top running back, suffered a right ankle injury in Sunday’s victory over Cincinnati, which might sideline him for the duration of the season. As a result, the Chiefs invited Hunt in for a tryout. They will be short-handed at the position when they travel to Atlanta this weekend because Clyde Edwards-Helaire is also on the non-football illness list for at least two more games.

Samaje Perine and Carson Steele, two undrafted rookies, are anticipated to play most of the snaps, but the Chiefs also have Keaontay Ingram and Emani Bailey, who they may elevate from the practice squad to add depth.

Hunt will probably stay there for a few weeks at least, or until he understands the playbook well enough to be useful.

He was selected by the Chiefs in the third round of the 2017 draft out of Toledo, and as a rookie, he set a league record with 1,327 yards and eight touchdowns. Returning the next season, he rushed for 824 yards and seven touchdowns in the first 11 games while Patrick Mahomes was the starting quarterback.

A video that appeared in late November appeared to show Hunt kicking and pushing a lady in the Cleveland hotel hallway. The woman ceased cooperating with officials, but the Chiefs released him without filing any charges.

Hunt was suspended for eight games at the beginning of the 2018 season for breaking the NFL’s personal conduct policy, after which the Browns signed him in February. In order to stay in the Cleveland backfield, he went on to run for 179 yards and two touchdowns and catch 37 catches for 285 yards and one more score. This earned him a two-year, $13.25 million contract deal.

Due to a calf injury, Hunt was out for a portion of the 2021 season and lost ground to Nick Chubb and Jerome Ford in the starting lineup. Following the season, Hunt chose not to re-sign with Cleveland. After spending five years there, he amassed 2,285 yards and five touchdowns through running.

This season, the Chiefs are going for a record-tying third straight Super Bowl victory. They defeated Baltimore 27–20 in their first game, which was decided by a last-minute incompletion by the Ravens in the end zone. Then, with seconds remaining on Sunday, Harrison Butker’s 51-yard field goal gave them a 26-25 victory over the Bengals.