Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has never been afraid to mix things up when his offense gets bogged down. But with weeks of bumbling drives and leaning too much on Patrick Mahomes’ legs, Reid has had to take more drastic measures than usual. The latest? Giving more control to a rookie who may be the jumpstart this team so desperately needed.

The most significant indication of Reid’s sense of urgency was against the Baltimore Ravens, when rookie running back Brashard Smith transitioned from being a background player to a featured contributor. His stat line before Sunday was almost nonexistent — three carries for 15 yards and no receptions in three games. Against Baltimore, he changed that.

By the end of the afternoon, Smith had four carries, three catches, and 36 yards from scrimmage. He contributed 55 yards on two kickoff returns, including one slick 34-yarder that provided the Chiefs a brief field. For a player who did not have much of a role last week, Smith suddenly became a legitimate threat. Reid’s decision to rely on him more frequently wasn’t experimentation; it was necessity.

The Chiefs’ running game has been among the league’s least efficient, forcing Reid’s hand. Now, Smith’s emergence could be the beginning of a reset in how Kansas City approaches its ground attack.

The statistics explain why Reid is making the switch. Over four weeks, Mahomes has been gaining 9.5 yards per attempt and converting a first down on 77% of his carries. Compared to the Chiefs’ running backs, the 3.3 yards per attempt and a first-down conversion rate of only 24%. That disparity isn’t going to last, and it’s forcing Mahomes to make undue sacrifices.

RB1 Isiah Pacheco may hold the starting role, but his production through four weeks tells a different story. 32 carries for 127 yards represents a pedestrian 4.0 yards per carry average with no explosive plays. The steady-but-unspectacular output hasn’t created the rushing threat Kansas City needs.

RB2 Kareem Hunt’s return on a one-year deal hasn’t changed the equation significantly. He’s contributed modest yardage without forcing the coaching staff to restructure their offensive approach around the ground game. His costly penalty during a crucial moment further diminished his value and trustworthiness in high-leverage situations. With just 115 yards in 36 carries paints a bleak picture

Smith’s flashes against Baltimore presented Reid with a possible way out. Though he is not yet polished, his burst and skill in space provide the Chiefs with something that neither of their veteran backs has consistently contributed this season. Reid rarely plugs rookies into prominent positions so early, but the desperation in Kansas City’s situation has made it necessary.

In the meantime, having wide receiver Xavier Worthy back from injury has been another low-key game-changer. Worthy opens up the field in a manner no other Chiefs receiver does, and his in-motion speed creates the need for defenses to stay early. Worthy also provided value, carrying the ball in the run game and as eye candy that defenders always have to account for when he goes in motion.

Nevertheless, even as Reid revamps units, Mahomes’ workload is a continuing concern. For all the adjustments on the periphery, the Chiefs’ running back ranks have not been able to offer the consistency he requires.

Troubles for Mahomes

Isiah Pacheco possesses explosive athleticism but struggles with vision, consistently leaving yards on the field by missing cutback lanes and failing to read blocks effectively. His physical tools can’t compensate for poor decision-making at the line of scrimmage.

Kareem Hunt brings excellent vision and patience, consistently identifying the right gaps and setting up blocks properly. However, he lacks the explosiveness to capitalize on those correct reads, unable to hit holes with burst or break long runs once reaching the second level.

Patrick Mahomes had become Kansas City’s most productive rusher through the first two games, accumulating 13 carries for 123 yards with two rushing touchdowns and 10 rushing first downs. The quarterback’s ground production exceeded the entire running back room’s combined output in the first 2 weeks.

Mahomes averaged 9.5 yards per carry with a first-down rate of 77%, while the three running backs combined for just 3.3 yards per carry with first downs on only 24% of their attempts. Mahomes led all NFL quarterbacks in rushing yards and was the only signal-caller accounting for more than half his team’s ground yardage in the first 2 weeks of the season.

Smith is not the only adjustment that is providing Reid optimism. The Chiefs’ line up front, led by first-round tackle Blake Simmons, is beginning to gel. Simmons has been anything but perfect — his nine pressures surrendered are the seventh-most among rookie linemen with a minimum of 100 pass-blocking snaps, but he has played tough and steady on the left side. Kansas City amassed a season-best 382 total yards versus Baltimore, an indicator that protection and scheme are possibly beginning to collaborate.

However, things are not very smooth, especially with Rashee Rice still away for 2 more games. The Chiefs have to adjust till then. The 25-year-old in his rookie year led the team’s wide receivers with 79 receptions, 938 yards, and seven touchdowns.

The Chiefs’ window of opportunity for a championship remains open as long as Mahomes is healthy, but the more he has to be both quarterback and lead rusher, the riskier it is. Reid understands this, which is why going to a rookie so early constitutes a strong move.

For Reid, the choice is obvious: he must lean into these adjustments and relieve pressure from Mahomes before the weight becomes too much. Firm measures now may be the difference between a repeat of last year’s offensive frustrations and a return to the relentless Chiefs of the recent past.