The Chiefs are bringing Kareem Hunt onto their practice squad, reuniting with a running back who became famous with them before a video showed him assaulting a woman, which led to his release, according to a source familiar with the situation who spoke to The Associated Press.
This person asked to remain anonymous on Tuesday since the team had not officially announced the signing yet.
The Chiefs invited Hunt for a workout after Isiah Pacheco, their main running back, hurt his right ankle during a win over Cincinnati on Sunday, which might keep him out for most of the season.
Additionally, Clyde Edwards-Helaire is on the non-football illness list for at least two more games, leaving the team short on running backs as they prepare to face Atlanta this weekend.
Undrafted rookie Carson Steele and veteran Samaje Perine are expected to handle most of the playing time, but the Chiefs also have Keaontay Ingram and Emani Bailey available on the practice squad if they need extra help.
Hunt will likely stay on the practice squad for a couple of weeks while he learns enough of the playbook to help the team.
The Chiefs picked him in the third round of the 2017 draft from Toledo, and he made a significant impact right away, rushing for a league-high 1,327 yards and eight touchdowns in his rookie season.
He continued to perform well the next season when Patrick Mahomes became the starting quarterback, running for 824 yards and seven touchdowns in the first 11 games.
In late November, a video showed Hunt pushing a woman to the ground and kicking her in a Cleveland hotel hallway. Following this, the Chiefs released him, even though no charges were pressed after the woman stopped cooperating with the authorities.
