KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs — who open the season Thursday against the Houston Texans at Arrowhead Stadium, a game that can be seen on 41 Action News — will rely on a rookie starting running back, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, for the first time since 2017.
“As far as visualizing, ultimately my first snap, I’ll be nervous," Edwards-Helaire said Tuesday. "That’s just what it is. That goes to show that I’m a human and this is my first NFL game. I really don’t know what to expect."
Three years ago in New England, the last Chiefs rookie running back to enter the season as a starter, Kareem Hunt, fumbled on his first NFL touch, but went on to have an historic game with nearly 250 yards from scrimmage.
Edwards-Helaire said he hasn't heard anything about Hunt's performance, or has any coaches or veteran teammates brought it up to him.
“It’s my job, as far as a running back, to protect the football and our job as an offense to protect the football, so we’ll go out there and protect the football and hold it high and tight and secure it," Edwards-Helaire said.
When it comes to expectations, Edwards-Helaire said he's not worried about what people are saying on social media.
“I’ve just been doing what I’ve been doing my whole life," he said. "I don’t look into those little things as far as this is what everybody is expecting. I know what I expect from myself and I know what they expect from me at this organization and that’s what I’m here to do what I need to do."
