Isiah Pacheco is set to be placed on injured reserve due to a fractured fibula. Kansas City’s backfield is thin at the moment as a result, but a familiar face could soon be back in the fold. 
Kareem Hunt is set to visit the team tomorrow, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports. That news comes after head coach Andy Reid noted (via Nate Taylor of The Athletic) general manager Brett Veach would at least explore the free agent market. Hunt has been available since his final Browns contract expired, and he has not been linked to any suitors until today.
The former third-rounder was drafted by the Chiefs in 2017, and he spent his first two years with the team. That stint included his Pro Bowl rookie campaign during which he led the league in rushing yards, along with a productive follow-up season. Upon being released by Kansas City in 2018, Hunt took a deal with the Browns and remained with the team for five years.
Following his suspension-shortened 2019 season, Hunt had his most successful campaign with the Browns one year later. That earned him a new Cleveland contract averaging $6MM per year, although his production while playing out that pact took a step back. Hunt was a free agent at the start of the 2023 season, but Nick Chubb‘s major knee injury paved the way for him to return. Occupying a backup role to Jerome Ford, Hunt averaged a career-low 3.0 yards per carry last year but set a new personal high with nine rushing touchdowns.
The Chiefs retained Clyde Edwards-Helaire this offseason, but he is currently on the reserve/NFI list. That leaves Samaje Perine and Carson Steele as the team’s only healthy backs on the active roster at the moment. Kansas City has veteran Keaontay Ingram and undrafted rookie Emani Bailey on the practice squad, but plans to promote one of them would no doubt change if Hunt were to sign.
The 29-year-old’s lack of a market should limit his price on a free agent deal with the Chiefs or any other team. Kansas City has just over $6MM in cap space at the moment, so a low-cost Hunt contract would be feasible. It will be interesting to see if tomorrow’s visit produces an agreement.