On Friday, August 30, the Kansas City Chiefs finalized their agreement with former Denver Broncos Running Back Samaje Perine, signing him to their 53-man roster. Perine now joins the Chiefs as the No. 3 running back on the team’s official depth chart heading into Week 1 of the regular season.
However, before we look too far ahead, let’s learn more about the Chiefs’ newest addition.
Samaje Perine’s Path To Kansas City
Perine’s professional career began in 2017 when he was selected 114th overall by the then-named Washington Redskins. Perine spent his first two seasons in Washington and accumulated 635 rushing yards with one touchdown in 21 games played.
Perine’s career then had a few more stops before reaching the Chiefs. He joined the Cincinnati Bengals twice, first in 2019, where he officially joined their practice squad in October of that year, and again in 2020. Perine found much more success during his second stint, playing in 48 games and accumulating 941 rushing yards and six touchdowns.
He also played for the Miami Dolphins and most recently the Denver Broncos. He first joined the Dolphins in 2019, appearing in just one game and gaining 16 yards. Then, Perine joined the Broncos on March 16, 2023, signing a two-year contract. Last season, Perine appeared in all 17 games, finishing with 52 carries for 248 rushing yards and one touchdown
With Perine being released once again, the Chiefs signed him to their roster, and he is now their third-string running back behind Isiah Pacheco and Clyde Edwards-Helaire.
Samaje Perine’s Fit With The Chiefs
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Pacehco and Edwards-Helaire are still early in their careers. Perine, a six-year veteran, has totaled 3,021 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns over his career. Doing so in various offenses, schemes, and environments will allow him to fit in well with his new team.
Perine will provide a veteran presence in the room since Jerick McKinnon is no longer with the team. Perine now steps into that role and can also provide necessary relief on the field for the Chiefs.
Not only can Perine serve as the vet in the room and provide relief in the ground game, but he has also shown the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. Over the last two seasons, Perine has caught 88 passes for 742 yards and four touchdowns. He especially broke out in the passing game with the Broncos during the 2022 season, where he had 50 receptions for 455 yards.
Expectations for Samaje Perine In KC
Fans should expect to see some of Perine in the regular season opener against the Baltimore Ravens. Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid addressed the media on Friday, stating that although Perine has not spent much time with the team, and is learning the playbook before Thursday’s matchup with the Ravens.
“Yes, absolutely, I think so. I’ve just gotta see with (Samaje) Perine on where he’s at in picking everything up,” said Reid. “I’m not gonna put him in a bad position, obviously, but I think he’s gonna be fine. He’s been in here cranking away, so we’ll see how everything goes.”
This is also likely to be the case moving forward as well. With Perine still becoming acclimated with the Chiefs, at least in the first few games, his snap count may not be very high. Considering the Chiefs are not a very run-heavy team, Perine’s opportunities may increase as the season goes on, but fans should not be surprised if Perine does not see much on-field action.
However, Perine’s biggest impact will likely be on the two current Chiefs running backs off the field, helping Pacehco and Edwards-Helaire become more cerebral players with their running and even pass-catching.
Final Thoughts
Once again, Brett Veach and Reid have added another solid depth piece to the roster as the team prepares to begin its campaign for a third straight Super Bowl Championship. By adding another savvy veteran to the roster, the Chiefs bolster a position that, while not their most consistent strength, is still crucial. Over the years, the running back position has produced some of the biggest moments in their current run of dominance. With Perine’s skillset and experience, he should be a perfect fit for this team.
Having been around the league long enough, he also understands his role on this team from day one. Additionally, he is now arguably in the best position of his career, so he will do whatever he can to support the team’s efforts at making history while also seeking his moment to leave a mark.
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