Chiefs add veteran running back to active roster

Facing some questions behind starter Isiah Pacheco, the Chiefs will add a player one of their division rivals just discarded. Samaje Perine is heading to Kansas City.

The veteran running back, whom the Broncos released after failing to complete a trade, is joining the Chiefs’ active roster, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport report. Perine will join Clyde Edwards-Helaire and rookie UDFA Carson Steele on Kansas City’s roster.

This will give Patrick Mahomes an interesting option. The Chiefs drafted Edwards-Helaire to be a dynamic weapon, with the 5-foot-7 back showing plus receiving skills at LSU. The former first-round pick failed to live up to his draft slot, running into inconsistency issues during an injury-marred rookie-contract period. Kansas City did re-sign Edwards-Helaire, but Pacheco — a former seventh-round pick — has distanced himself as the clear RB1.

Perine, 29 on September 16, will effectively replace Jerick McKinnon. The Chiefs had reached three one-year contracts with McKinnon, who rebounded from two full-season absences to become a reliable contributor — particularly through the air — in Kansas City. The 10-year veteran is now 32, and the Chiefs are going a bit younger by nabbing Perine.

Delivering his best passing-game work in Denver, Perine totaled 455 receiving yards on 50 catches last season. He played a key role in the Broncos’ five-game midseason win streak, which included an upset over the Chiefs, but Denver did not find room on its roster this year. The Broncos had given Perine a two-year contract, but they then drafted Audric Estime in Round 5. The Notre Dame alum joined starter Javonte Williams and UDFAs Jaleel McLaughlin and Blake Watson on the Broncos’ 53-man roster.