Account
Chiefs Rumors: Jerick McKinnon, KC Agree to 1-Year Contract
June 13, 2022
The Kansas City Chiefs have reportedly re-signed running back Jerick McKinnon on a one-year deal, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.
The 30-year-old appeared in 13 games last season, totaling 62 rushing yards on 5.2 yards per carry while adding 13 catches for 107 yards. He scored his lone regular-season touchdown in a Week 18 win over the Denver Broncos.
McKinnon's role expanded significantly in the postseason, as he totaled 150 rushing yards and 165 receiving yards with a touchdown in three games.
He saw 158 offensive snaps in just three postseason games compared to 172 in the entire regular season, while his 34 playoff carries nearly tripled his 12 during the year.
Starter Clyde Edwards-Helaire was dealing with a shoulder injury that cost him nearly a month of action, but he was active for the final two postseason games as McKinnon stole the majority of the backfield touches.
McKinnon's signing further jumbles the backfield heading into 2022.
Edwards-Helaire has started every regular-season game he has played in the NFL, but the 2020 first-round pick has struggled with injuries and only had 646 yards from scrimmage in 10 games last season.
McKinnon's skills as a receiver could net him more work considering he totaled 33 catches with the San Francisco 49ers in 2020 and 51 receptions in 2017 with the Minnesota Vikings. He lost two prime years of his career (2018-2019) after tearing his ACL in his right knee in 2018 during a team workout after signing a four-year, $30 million deal with the 49ers.
With former Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Ronald Jones II also joining the Chiefs on a one-year deal this offseason and Derrick Gore impressing in limited work last year, the team could have a full-blown running back committee next season.