The Kansas City Chiefs have a new running back in the rotation with Damien Williams sidelined due to a knee injury.

Darrel Williams joined the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2018 and made the 53-man roster out of the gate. He was inactive for most of the season until late season attrition thrust him into the rotation. He didn’t get a lot of opportunities then, with touches in just four games, but now he’s getting an opportunity to showcase his consistency.

“So he played for us last year in kind of the same type of role,” Reid said. “He’s kind of Mr. Consistent and tough. Again, he’s a smart kid, so he knows everything protection-wise that’s going on. He’s a patient runner, but when he goes, he’s going to hit you. He’s bringing a lot of weight behind him. He can put his shoulder down and get you a couple of extra yards there. He’s been pretty good with that from even when he was young. It limits some of the unnecessary hits that you have to take.”

A thing that Williams also brings to the table is speed, he was one of the NFL’s fastest ball carriers on Sunday, reaching a top speed of 20.88 MPH against the Ravens. For someone listest at 5-feet-11 and 224 pounds, that’s really impressive.

Reid likes what he’s seen out of the second-year running back. He believes that he’s stepped up and elevated his game for the 2019 season. Now, he’s seeing the reward for his efforts during the offseason.

“Darrel really had a good offseason, as far as getting himself into the shape that he thinks he needs to be in to play at this level,” Reid said of Williams. “I think yesterday was a nice cookie that he gave himself for saying, ‘Listen, I busted my tail, I dropped my weight down, increased my body mass muscle-wise and this is the result.’ That helps you keep pushing through all of that. He’s naturally a big guy. I thought he played physical. I thought he did well in the pass game. Some of his blitz pickups… top notch. He did a nice job.”

One area that Williams has been extra consistent is in the passing game. On his career, he has been targeted eight times and has eight receptions for 74 yards and a touchdown. He’s also comfortable in pass protection, using his big frame to box out blitzing defenders. His recent performance against the Ravens was highlighted by his game-winning reception on third-and-9 which went for 16 yards.

“Yeah he kicked through that tackle right there at the end, which is big,” Reid said of the game-icing play from Williams. “He’s a big kid now so when he brings it on you, he’s going to bring it on you. He’s tough to bring down.”

This play just goes to show how much the Chiefs trust Williams and why he could see more action moving forward for this team. How many teams put the ball in the hands of their third-string RB with the game on the line? Just when you think the Chiefs’ offense can’t use any more weapons, they find a diamond in the rough that is primed for making an impact down the line.

Gallery Best photos from Chiefs' Week 3 victory over Ravens View 26 photos

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