Chiefs make the best possible decision they could for RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire amidst PTSD struggles

The Kansas City Chiefs made a big decision regarding RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire.

As first reported by ESPN's Field Yates, the Chiefs are set to place Edwards-Helaire on the Reserve/Non-Football Illness list. This comes after Edwards-Helaire has dealt with a reoccurring illness related to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) . Edwards-Helaire opened up about his struggles in training camp, saying that he's struggled over the past several seasons with cyclic vomiting syndrome. It has caused him to lose weight at times and has even led to his hospitalization.

Edwards-Helaire missed the team's practice on Sunday, signaling that this move was coming. What exactly does his placement on the Reserve/NFI list mean, though? Here's an explanation from our roster cuts tracker :

Players placed on either Reserve/NFI lists have to go through the same process as players on the Reserve/PUP list. They do not count toward the 53-man roster. They can go to team meetings and use facilities for rehab, but they’re not allowed to participate in practice for four weeks. After that, a four-week period opens where they can return to practice and the team can choose to activate the player to the 53-man roster. If the player isn’t activated at the end of the second four-week period, they’ll remain on injured reserve for the rest of the season. The big difference between the NFI and PUP lists is that teams can withhold a portion of a player’s salary if they’re placed on the NFI lists.

This was the best possible decision for the team and Clyde Edwards-Helaire

As a result of his placement on the Reserve/Non-Football Illness list, Edwards-Helaire will at least miss the first four weeks of the 2024 NFL season. There's a possibility that Edwards-Helaire misses even more time as he tries to get treatment for his PTSD.

Ultimately, this was the best possible decision for both the team and for the player. This has interfered with his ability to see the field and do his job at a high level. Having him on the roster wouldn't be fair to him or to the team as his availability hasn't been consistent enough throughout training camp, the preseason and even dating back to last season.

This allows for him to take the time he needs to get healthy. The team has a behavioral health specialist on staff in Dr. Shaun Tyrance. Edwards-Helaire has previously mentioned that Julie Frymeyer has been one of the only people able to help treat his illness.

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