What happened to Clyde Edwards-Helaire? Chiefs dealt major blow ahead of Week 1

The Kansas City Chiefs reportedly placed running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire on the reserve/non-football illness list on Monday. Edwards-Helaire has been listed on the Chiefs' unofficial injury report with an illness, per ESPN's Field Yates.

The former first-round running back has opened up on his struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder, from an incident in 2018.

"The only person who kind of put me in the right direction was Julie Frymeyer early on, to get me some of the meds at the time when I am going through an episode to get me over that hump," Edwards-Helaire said last month, via SI.

"But it's real, real bad dehydration, dropping weight real fast, but it's really just mentally, just not being there. It's one of those things where early on, guys who kind of pay attention — Trav [Travis Kelce], Kadarius [Toney] at times — they'll know ahead of time, like, 'OK, Clyde's not laughing, he's not giggling, he's not himself, we've just gotta make sure we're checking in on him as the person.'"

Edwards-Helaire has missed practices in the past due to the illness. During training camp, Chiefs coach Andy Reid was asked about the possibility of Edwards-Helaire opening up the season on the IR, but he said the focus was making sure the running back is OK.

With Kansas City placing Edwards-Helaire on the reserve/non-football illness list, he will miss the first four games of the Chiefs 2024 season. Kansas City opens its season on Thursday at home against the Baltimore Ravens.

What does the Chiefs RB depth chart look like in Clyde Edwards-Helaire's absence?

Clyde Edwards-Helaire was expected to be the Kansas City Chiefs backup running back in 2024.

Isiah Pacheco is the Chiefs' starting running back who's entering his third season in the NFL. Last season, he rushed for 935 yards on 205 carries and seven touchdowns. He also added 244 receiving yards on 44 receptions and two touchdowns.

With Clyde Edwards-Helaire out, the Chiefs' backup running back will be Samaje Perine, who Kansas City signed in August. Perine is entering his eighth year in the NFL and has played for the Washington Commanders, Cincinnati Bengals, Miami Dolphins and Denver Broncos.

Last season with Denver, he rushed for 231 yards on 50 carries and one touchdown. He added 432 receiving yards on 47 receptions.

The third-string running back is undrafted rookie Carson Steele.