Jan 13, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Kareem Hunt (27) breaks the tackle of Houston Texans linebacker Christian Harris (48) as he scores a touchdown in a 2024 AFC wild card game at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images With an urgent need to fill the slot of injured rusher Isiah Pacheco, the Kansas City Chiefs are returning to a familiar face, signing running back Kareem Hunt to the practice squad Tuesday, according to multiple reports.
Pacheco, 25, is expected to be out 6-8 weeks with a fractured fibula. He was injured Sunday on a 1-yard run on the drive that ended with Harrison Butker’s game-winning field goal in Kansas City’s 26-25 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.
Hunt, 29, was a third-round pick by the Chiefs in the 2017 NFL Draft and spent most of the first two years of his professional career in Kansas City, including a Pro Bowl rookie season where he posted 1,327 rushing yards to lead the league.
Kansas City released Hunt in November 2018 after a video surfaced of him shoving and kicking a woman in a hotel. After authorities did not move forward with criminal charges, Hunt rebooted his career with the Cleveland Browns in 2019.
Last season, he appeared in 15 games with two starts for the Browns. He was re-signed after starter Nick Chubb went down with a season-ending knee injury in Week 2. He rushed 135 times for 411 yards with nine touchdowns and also caught 15 passes for 84 yards.
Hunt was a free agent when he underwent surgery in January for a ruptured adductor that apparently plagued him much of the 2023 season.
In 91 career games (38 starts) with the Kansas City Chiefs (2017-18) and Browns, Hunt has gained 6,326 yards from scrimmage with 57 scores.
Hunt will be joining undrafted rookie Carson Steele and veteran Samaje Perine as options for help in Pacheco’s absence.
–Field Level Media